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PRINCETON,  N.  J.  *% 

Presented   byTro'^  .3o^an~D Aj^  V^VtD 03 


BX  8958  .E7  E27  1868  copy  1 
Eaton,  S.  J.  M.  1820-1889. 
History  of  the  Presbytery  o 
Erie 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 


HISTORY 


PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE; 


EMBRACING  IN  ITS  ANCIENT  BOUNDARIES  THE  WHOLE 

OF   NORTHWESTERN   PENNSYLVANIA   AND 

NORTHEASTERN   OHIO: 


BIOGEAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OE  ALL  ITS  MINISTEES, 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES   OF   ITS   CHURCHES. 


BY 
S.   J.   M.   EATON, 

PASTOR  OF   THE  PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH,   FRANKLIN,  PA. 


NEW   YORK: 
PUBLISHED  BY  HURD  AND  HOUGHTON, 

459  Broome  Street. 
1868. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1868,  by 
S.  J.  M.  Eaton, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 


FEINTED  AT  THE  RIVERSIDE  PRE8S, 
CAMBRIDGE,  MASS. 


TO    THE    MEMORY 

OF   THE 

FATHERS   AND  BRETHREN  OF  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE, 

WHO  REST  FROM  THEIR  LABORS: 

AND  TO 

THOSE   WHO  YET  LABOR  IN  THE  GREAT  FIELD, 

DOING    THE   MASTER'S   WORK, 

2r!)fs   Uolume 

IS   RESPECTFULLY    DEDICATED   BY   THEIR 
FELLOW   SERVANT, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE, 


The  Presbytery  of  Erie,  although  small  in  its  pres- 
ent membership  and  territory,  has  a  most  interesting 
history.  It  is  substantially  the  history  of  Presbyterian - 
ism  in  the  early  settlement  of  Northwestern  Penn- 
sylvania and  Eastern  Ohio.  Being  the  third  Pres- 
bytery organized  west  of  the  Mountains,  its  history  is 
connected  with  the  recital  of  enterprise  and  self-de- 
nial and  energetic  endeavor,  such  as  have  character- 
ized the  histories  of  few  Presbyteries,  east  or  west. 

But  the  early  records  are  brief,  and  in  many  respects 
unsatisfactory.  There  is  no  record  of  the  organization  of 
churches  for  the  first  thirty  years  of  its  history,  and  it 
is  often  impossible  to  distinguish  between  regularly 
organized  churches  and  mere  preaching  points.  At 
the  first,  the  names  of  places  seem  to  have  been  re- 
corded just  as  they  petitioned  for  supplies,  and  were 
permitted  to  change  to  the  more  important  relation  of 
organized  churches  without  any  record  being  made. 

The  authorities  chiefly  relied  on  in  this  work,  are 
the  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery;  of  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 
burgh, and  of  the  General  Assembly.      Aid  has  also 


Viu  PREFACE. 

been  received  from  the  "Western  Missionary  Maga- 
zine," "  Evangelical  Intelligencer,"  Gillett's  "  History  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,"  Wilson's  "  Presbyterian  His- 
torical Almanac,"  "  Old  Redstone,"  Elliott's  "  Macurdy,'* 
"  History  of  Western  Pennsylvania,"  Dr.  Smith's 
"  Sketches,"  and  an  extended  correspondence  with 
brethren,  to  whom  thanks  are  here  tendered.  Added  to 
this,  familiarity  from  childhood  with  the  relation  of  the 
stirring  scenes  and  incidents  connected  with  the  early 
history  of  the  Presbytery,  by  those  who  mingled  in  its 
affairs,  has  greatly  assisted  in  filling  up  what  had  else 
been  but  dim  outline. 

In  the  biographical  department,  sketches  have  been 
given  of  all  the  ministers  who  have  been  at  any  time 
connected  with  the  Presbytery,  together  with  brief  his- 
torical notices  of  all  the  living  ministers  whose  names 
have  been  upon  its  roll.  The  numbers  prefixed  to  the 
names  denote  the  order  in  which  they  became  mem- 
bers of  Presbytery;  and  these  numbers  affixed  in 
the  history  proper,  refer  to  the  biographical  sketches, 
in  Part  II.  The  sketches  of  churches  are  designed  to 
embrace  all  connected  with  the  history  of  the  Presby- 
tery. They  necessarily  embrace  churches  now  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Beaver,  Alleghany, 
Alleghany  City,  and  St.  Clairsville  ;  also,  the  Presby- 
teries of  Erie,  Meadville,  Buffalo,  and  Trumbull,  of 
the  other  branch.  These  sketches  are  brief  and  mea- 
gre, even  where  much  matter  was  at  hand,  as  extended 
notices  would  have  swelled  the  volume  to  an  undue  size. 


PREFACE.  IX 

The  work  was  undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie.  The  task  of  collecting  and  arranging  the 
materials  has  been  the  labor  of  years ;  and  the  com- 
pleted work  is  now  offered  to  the  Church  as  an  humble 
memorial  of  the  past,  and  to  perpetuate  that  which 
else  had  soon  been  forgotten  forever  upon  earth. 

Fbanklin,  Pa.,  February,  1868. 


CONTENTS. 


PART    I. 

CHAPTER  I. 

PRELIMINARY. 

The  Times.  — Peace  with  the  Indians.  —  Spirit  of  Enterprise.  — 
Spirit  of  Eevival.  —  Great  Prosperity.  —  The  Territory-  extend- 
ed; uncultivated.  — Eager  calls  for  Laborers.  —  Boundaries. — 
The  Ministers:  Hardy;  inured  to  Labor;  Enterprising;  Edu- 
cated in  the  West;  adapted  to  the  Field;  Advantages;  Charac- 
ter; their  Labors;  Missionary  Toilers.  —  Churches  to  be  or- 
ganized.—  Difficulties  to  be  settled.  — Anecdote.  — Hardships. 
Mode  of  Travelling.  —  Stockton.  —  Eaton.  —  Successes.  —  An- 
ecdote of  Rice.  —  Presbyterianism.  —  Revivals.  —  Young  Men. 

—  The  People:  Scotch;  Irish.  —  Frolics.  —  Primitive  Houses.  — 
McGarraugh's  House;  Eaton's.  —  Church  Buildings.  —  Middle- 
brook.  —  Seeking  Supplies.  —  Edward  Johnston.  —  Domestic 
Manufacture.  —  Supplies.  —  Manners.  —  Church  Service.  —  Lin- 
ing Out. —  Tedious  Service.  —  Communion  Service.  —  Tokens. 

—  Fencing  the  Tables.  —  Catechism 3 


CHAPTER  IL 

FROM   THE   ERECTION   OF  THE   PRESBYTERY  TO  THE   FIRST   DIVISION. 
1801-1808. 

Redstone  and  Ohio.  —  Act  of  Synod.  — Boundaries.  —  First  Meet- 
ing.—  Members  — Officers.  —  Mr.  Hughes  and  Mr.  Wick. — 
Mr.  Tait's  First  Church.  —  Mr.  Stockton's  Youth.  —  Satterfield, 
Wylie,  Plumer,  Dodd.  —  First  Supplies.  —  Prayer.  —  Educa- 
tion. —  Academy.  —  Statistical  Report.  —  First   Preaching.  — 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

Dickson's  Journal.  —  "Wood.  —  John  and  Abraham  Bo3''d  or- 
dained. —  Cook  and  Patterson.  —  Books  sought.  —  Elements  of 
Boards.  —  Badger.  —  Supplies.  —  Patterson's  Journal.  —  First 
Licensure.  —  First  Pastoral  Relation  Dissolved.  —  [Missions  to 
Indians.  —  Historj'  of  Presbytery.  —  Plan  of  Union.  — Division 
of  Presbyter}^  —Protest.  —  Stated  Clerk's  Bill.  —  Academy.  =— 
Licensures.  —  Division  of  Presbytery.  —  Minute  of  Synod. — 
New  Presbytery  of  Hartford 27 


CHAPTER  IIL 

FROM   THE   FIRST   TO   THE    SECOND   DIVISION   OF   PRESBYTERY. 

1808-1820. 

New  Roll.  —  Settlements. —  TerritorJ^  — Houses  of  Worship.— 
Bams.  —  Forest  Worship.  —  Tradition.  —  Dismissions.  —  Mat- 
thews.—  Riggs.  —  Fire  in  Churches.  —  Missionary  Ground. — 
Matrimon3^  -^  Synod's  Action.  —  Hilands'.  —  Early  Experience. 

—  Butler.  —  Salem.  —  Serious  Question.  —  Chaplains.  —  Tem- 
perance. —  Redick  and  Chase.  —  Offense.  —  Troubles.  —  Psalm- 
ody.—  Music.  —  Aldenand  Missions.  —  Theological  Seminaries. 

—  Candidates.  —  Camp.  —  Complaint.  —  Division  of  Presbytery. 

—  Results.  — Revivals.  — Presbytery  of  Alleghany    ...     66 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FROM   THE   SECOND   DIVISION   OF   PRESBYTERY   TO   THE    GREAT 
DIVISION. 

1820-1837. 

Contracted  Limits.  —  Small  Number  of  Ministers.  —  Churches.  — 
Discouragements.  —  Energy.  —  First  Meeting.  —  Van  Liew.  — 
Narrative.  —  Sunday-schools.  —  Meadville.  —  Missionary  Cir- 
cular. —  Springfield  Controversy.  —  New  Members.  —  Erie.  — 
Mercer.  —  Franklin.  —  Increase.  —  Revival.  — Incidents.  — Tem- 
perance. —  Four  Days'  Meetings.  —  Sacraments.  —  Evangelists. 

—  Revival.  —  Baptism.  -^  Fast  Difficulties.  —  New  Members.  — 
Act  and  Testimony.  —  West.  —  Slavery.  —  Elders'  Convention. 

—  Franklin.  —  Troubles  in  the  Distance 100 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER  V. 

THE   GKEAT   DIVISION. 

1837-1838. 

The  Storm.  —  Action  of  General  Assembly  disapproved  of.  — 
Vote.  —  Complaint  and  Appeal.  —  Action  of  Synod.  —  Last 
Meeting.  —  Members  Present.  —  McCready's  Resolutions.  —  Re- 
port of  Commissioners.  —  Motion  to  postpone  and  refer  to  Sy- 
nod. — Vote.  —  Withdrawal  of  Minority.  —  Rule  of  General  As- 
sembly. —  Officers.  —  Records.  —  Synod.  —  Decision.  —  Presby- 
tery of  the  other  Branch 135 

CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM   THE   GKEAT   DIVISION   TO   THE   PRESENT. 

1838-1867. 

Numbers.  —  Division.  —  Feeling.  —  New  Members.  —  Education. 

—  Missionary.  —  Sabbath.  —  Slavery.  —  Proposition  of  Reun- 
ion. — 1845  to  1855.  —  Revival.  —  Death  of  Air.  Eaton.  —  Death 
of  Glenn  and  McCullough.  — 1859  to  1861.  —  State  of  the  Coun- 
try. — 1865.  —  Exchange  of  Delegates  with  New  School.  —  State 

of  theCountry.  — President.  — 1867.— Revivals        .        .        .143 

CHAPTER  Vn. 

SUPPLEMENTAL. 

Changes.  —  Short  Settlements.  —  Causes.  —  Roll.  — Longevity.  — 
Oldest  Ministers. — Nativity. — Places  of  Study.  —  Chaplains. 

—  Christian  Commission.  —  Stated  Clerks.  —  Influence.  —  Ex- 
ample. —  Lessons 169 


XIV 


CONTENTS. 


PART  II. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

BIOGRAPHIES   OF   DECKASED    MINISTERS. 


Thomas  Edgar  Hughes 
William  Wick     . 
Samuel  Tait  .     . 
Joseph  Stockton 
Robert  Lee     .    • 
James  Satterfield 
William  Wylie  . 
John  Boyd     .    • 
Abraham  Boyd   . 
William  Wood    . 
Joseph  Badger    . 
Alexander  Cook 
Robert  Patterson 
Robert  Johnston 
Nicholas  Pittinger 
John  jNIcPherrin 
Benjamin  Boyd  . 
Cyrus  Riggs   .     . 
Reid  Bracken  .    . 
Johnston  Eaton  . 
James  Boyd  .    . 
John  Matthews  . 
Robert  McGarraugh 
Ira  Condit  .    . 
Amos  Chase  . 


John  Van  Liew  , 
David  McKinney 
Absalom  McCready 
Peter  Hassinger  . 
James  Alexander 
George  A.  Lyon 
George  W.  Hampso; 
William  A.  Adair 
Simeon  Peck  .    . 


.  177 

.  183 

.  185 

.  191 

.  195 

.  199 

.  203 

.  211 

.  213 

.  216 

.  218 

.  230 

.  233 

.  240 

.  249 

.  251 

.  255 

.  256 

.  261 

.  265 

.  269 

.  271 

.  275 

.  277 

.  282 


John  Redick 288 

Timothy  Alden 290 

John  Munson 296 

Phineas  Camp 299 

Bradford  Marcy 302 

Giles  boolittle 303 

Nathan  Harned 308 

Wells  Bushnell 311 

Thomas  Anderson  ....  315 

Pierce  Chamberlain     .     .     .  319 

Edson  Hart 323 

Robert  Glenn 324 

John  McNair 328 

Nathaniel  West 331 

Charles  Danforth     ....  334 

John  Limber 336 

Alexander  Boyd     ....  339 

John  Kinkead  Cornyn     .     .  341 

Lewis  W.  Williams      ...  343 

Lemuel  P.  Bates     ....  349 

Charles  V.  Struve   ....  351 

Nathaniel  M.  Crane     ...  352 

William  McCuUough  ...  356 

Robert  Taylor    .  \    ...  361 


NOTICES   OF   LIVING   MINISTERS. 


369 

James  G.  Wilson     .     . 

.    377- 

370 

Robinson  S.  Lockwood 

.    378 

371 

Reuben  Lewis     .     .     . 

.     378 

372 

William  Fuller   .     .     . 

.    379 

373 

David  Waggoner    .     . 

.    380 

374 

Daniel  Washburn   .     . 

.    380 

374 

John  V.  Reynolds   .    . 

.    381 

375 

Edmund  McKinney    . 

.     381 

376 

Cyrus  Dickson    .     .     . 

.    381 

CONTENTS. 

XV 

Edward  S.  Blake    .    . 

.    382 

John  R.  Findley      .     . 

.     393 

Hiram  Eddv  .... 

.    382 

John  R.  Hamilton  .     . 

.     394 

Joseph  T.  Smith     .     .     . 

.    383 

John  D.  Howey  .     .     . 

.     394 

James  Coulter    .     .     .     . 

.     383 

Ira  M.  Condit     .     .     . 

.     395 

Henry  Webber   .     .     . 

.    384 

Anthony  C.  Junkin 

.     .    395 

James  \V^.  Dickev 

.     384 

Huey  Newell      .    .    . 
George  Scott  .... 

.*396 

Alexander  Cunningham 

.    385 

.    396 

John  M,  Smith   .     .     . 

.    385 

James  H.  Spelman  .     . 

.     396 

Miles  T.  Merwin     .     .     . 

.    386 

John  G.  Condit  .     .     . 

.     397 

Lemuel  G.  Olmstead   . 

.    386 

John  H.  Sargent      .     . 

.     .    397 

James  H.  Callen      .     . 

.    387 

Newell  S.  Lowrie    .     . 

.     .     398 

Samuel  J.  M.  Eaton    . 

.     387 

James  H.  Gray  .     .     . 

.     398 

Michael  A.  Parkinson  . 

.     388 

William  T.  Hamilton  . 

.    398 

John  Sailor     .... 

.     .     388 

William  P.  Moore  .     . 

.     399 

Robert  S.  Morton     .    . 

.     .     389 

George  F.  Cain  .     .     . 

.     .     399 

William  Wilson  .     .     . 

.     .    389 

William  M.  Robinson  . 

.     .     399 

JohnW.  McCune    .     . 

.    390 

Luther  M.  Belden  .    . 

.     .     400 

David  Grier    .... 

.     390 

John  Rice 

.     400 

George  W.  Zahniser    . 

.    390 

Henry  B.  Lambe     .     . 

.     401 

Robert  F.  Sample   .     . 

.     391 

James  J.  Marks  .     .     . 

.     401 

James  I.  Smith  .     .     . 

.    391 

Robert  S.  Van  Cleve   . 

.     401 

James  M.  Shields    .     . 

.    392 

John  J.  Gridley  .     .     . 

.     402 

William  J.  Alexander 

.    392 

James  J.  Smyth      .     . 

.     402 

Charles  A.  Behrends   . 

.    393 

David  Patton     .     .     . 

.     403 

William  M.  Blackburn 

.     393 

PART    III. 

HISTORICAL  NOTICES  OF  CHURCHES. 

Sketches  of  Churches,  either  now  or  at  any  former  time  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery 407 


PART    I. 


HISTORY 


HISTOKY 


OF    THE 


PRESBYTERY    OF    ERIE. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PRELIMINARY. 

The  Presbytery  of  Erie  was  erected  under  most 
auspicious  circumstances.  The  dark  clouds  that  had 
lowered  so  heavily  over  the  church  and  over  the  country 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  were  rapidly  rolling  away, 
and  everything  betokened  prosperity  and  peace.  Gen- 
eral Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians  had  opened  the 
way  for  the  occupation  of  territory  that  had  hitherto 
been  locked  up.  A  tide  of  emigration  had  set  in  from 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  that 
bade  fair  to  occupy  the  country  that  had  hitherto  been 
but  the  hunting  ground  of  the  Indian  ;  or  at  least  neu- 
tral ground  in  the  great  conflict  between  civilization 
and  barbarism.  There  was  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  now 
greatly  stimulated  by  the  love  of  adventure,  that  was 
spreading  over  the  older  settlements,  and  that  promised 
to  bring  into  the  new  territory  just  opening  up,  the 
better  class  of  the  population  of  the  East.  Hitherto 
the  region  north  and  west  of  the  Ohio,  and  extending 
to  the  great  Northern  Lakes,  had  been  comparatively  an 
unknown  land.  It  had  been  partially  explored  for  half 
a  century,  but  up  to  this  time  had  been  all  unsettled 


4  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

and  unsafe.  About  the  year  1750-52,  the  French  had 
set  up  their  claim  to  its  possession,  and  were  in  some 
degree  in  alliance  with  the  Indians,  rendering  the  work 
of  exploring  even  unsafe  and  unprofitable.  After  the 
departure  of  the  French,  there  was  a  bitterness  and  a 
jealousy  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  who  claimed  the 
territory,  that  effectually  closed  up  the  country  against 
actual  settlement.  At  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  all  these  difficulties  were  surmounted  and  the 
gates  opened  that  invited  the  westward  march  of  civil- 
ization, bearing  in  its  train  the  blessings  of  evangeliza- 
tion. 

The  religious  influence  at  this  time  was  most  blessed 
and  happy.  The  terrible  scourge  of  skepticism  and 
infidelity  that  seemed  as  though  it  would  sweep  over 
the  entire  country,  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was 
rapidly  abating.  The  stamp  of  French  influence  that 
at  one  time  seemed  fixing  itself  upon  the  religious  in- 
stitutions of  the  country  was  vanishing,  and  a  pure 
Christianity  fast  assuming  its  place.  Added  to  this,  the 
spirit  of  revival  was  making  itself  felt  with  wondrous 
power  and  efficacy.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  been  poured 
out  most  copiously  upon  the  older  Presbyteries  of  the 
West,  and  the  infant  churches  recently  planted  in  the 
new  territory  had  been  largely  blessed.  These  revivals 
had  commenced  in  1778,  in  Vance's  Fort,^  into  which 
the  settlement  had  been  driven  by  the  incursions  of 
savages.  "  From  1781  to  1787,  a  most  extensive  w^ork 
of  grace  was  experienced  in  the  churches  of  Cross 
Creek,  Upper  Buflalo,  Chartiers,  Pigeon  Creek,  Bethel, 
Lebanon,  Ten  Mile,  Cross  Roads,  and  Millcreek,  dur- 
ing which  more  than  a  thousand  persons  were  brought 
into  the  kingdom  of  Christ." 

"  From  1795  to  1799,  another  series  of  gracious  visit- 
1  Rev.  Joseph  Stevenson. 


HISTORr.  5 

ations  were*enjoyecl  by  the  churches  generally  through- 
out Western  Pennsylvania,  extending  to  the  new  settle- 
ments north  of  Pittsburgh." 

These  gracious  visitations  continued  into  the  begin- 
ning of  the  new  century,  filling  the  minds  of  many 
with  the  conviction  that  the  very  dawn  of  the  Millenium 
had  come.  Even  in  the  midst  of  the  labors  and  watch- 
ing peculiar  to  the  founding  of  new  settlements,  and 
sometimes  without  the  labors  of  the  stated  ministry,  this 
spirit  of  revival  was  present,  stimulating  the  hearts  of 
the  settlers  with  hope  and  courage,  and  inviting  others 
who  were  looking  for  some  new  place  of  settlement  to 
cast  in  their  lot  with  them.  Says  a  venerable  fiither,^ 
lately  fallen  asleep:  "My  mother  was  pious,  and  hear- 
ing of  the  revival  of  religion  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
felt  a  great  anxiety  that  her  family  might  enjoy  the 
benefits  of  such  a  season.  Accordingly  we  removed  to 
Beaver  County  in  1806."  Others  were  influenced,  no 
^  doubt,  in  the  same  way,  and  thus  the  spiritual  attractions 
of  the  new  territory  added  to  its  temporal  prosperity. 

In  the  mean  time  all  fear  of  hostility  on  the  part 
of  the  Indians  being  removed,  settlers  pushed  their 
way  northward  to  Lake  Erie,  and  westward  into  Ohio, 
forming  settlements,  and  laying  the  foundation  of  the 
dense  population  that  now  occupies  what  was  the 
original  territory  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

The  territory  that  was  occupied  by  the  old  Presby- 
tery of  Erie  was  widely  extended.  It  embraced  all  the 
churches  and  settlements  north  and  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  and  Alleghany  rivers.  It  extended  from  Beaver, 
Pa.,  on  the  Ohio  River  on  the  south,  to  Lake  Erie  on 
the  north,  and  from  the  Alleghany  River  on  the  east  to 
Canfield,  Ohio,  on  the  west,  embracing  the  whole   of 

1  Eev.  John  Munson. 


6  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

what  is  now  the  Synod  of  Alleghany  with  portions  of 
the  Synods  of  Wheeling,  Buffalo,  and  Pittsburgh.  The 
field  was  almost  wholly  uncultivated  by  ministerial  la- 
bor. The  population  was  mainly  Presbyterian.  They 
had  brought  with  them  a  few  books  from  the  East.  The 
Bible,  the  Westminster  Confession,  the  Hymn  Book, 
and  some  works  on  practical  religion  —  these  were 
their  spiritual  pabulum  during  the  intervals  of  their 
labor  and  toil.  They  often  met  together  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  held  what  they  called  "  Society  Meetings." 
The  exercises  consisted  of  singing,  prayer,  and  reading 
a  sermon  from  Burder  or  some  other  standard  work. 
But  the  parents  felt  that,  much  as  they  delighted  in  those 
social  meetings,  they  needed  the  minister  of  Christ. 
Their  children  had  many  of  them  been  baptized  in 
their  infancy  but  were  now  growing  up,  and  they  felt  the 
deepest  interest  in  their  spiritual  welfare.  Says  the  same 
father  already  quoted  :  ^  "  They  saw  the  importance  of 
having  the  standard  of  the  gospel  planted  at  the  com- 
mencement of  their  new  settlement.  In  all  their  meet- 
ings for  prayer  they  earnestly  sought  the  Lord  that  he 
would  send  them  a  godly  man,  to  break  to  them  the 
bread  of  life,  and  be  the  instrument  of  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  a  rising  church  in  the  wilderness.  Their 
prayers  were  heard,  and  thus  God  in  a  short  time  se- 
lected out  of  these  and  other  families  materials  for  the 
organization  of  a  church." 

This  remark  has  reference  to  the  settlement  in  Bea- 
ver County,  Pa.,  which  afterwards  constituted  the  con- 
gregation of  Mount  Pleasant ;  but  was  also  character- 
istic of  other  portions  of  the  territory  constituting  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  There  was  therefore  an  eager  call 
for  laborers  that  went  up  with  an  earnestness  almost 
1  Munson  to  Pluraer,  Prti.  Mag.  vii.  463. 


HISTORY.  7 

Macedonian,  and  was  responded  to  by  many  of  the 
ministers  in  the  older  settlements  with  a  zeal  and  self- 
denial  well-nigh  apostolical.  The  people  had  no  great 
inducements  to  offer  ;  certainly  very  few  of  a  temporal 
kind.  There  was  labor  and  self-denial,  with  little  in  the 
way  of  salary  or  worldly  fame.  But  there  were  oppor- 
tunities for  doing  good,  seldom  exceeded.  There  was 
the  way  opening  for  planting  the  church  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  of  gathering  immortal  souls  into  its  safe  and 
peaceful  inclosure. 

And  so  the  early  fathers  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie 
girded  themselves  for  the  work  and  the  warfare,  and 
went  forth  with  manly  hearts  to  labor  as  best  they  might 
in  the  Lord's  cause. 

These  fathers  were  a  hardy  set  of  men,  modeled 
after  a  type  peculiar  to  their  day,  and  eminently  adapted 
to  the  performance  of  the  great  work  to  which  they 
were  called.  They  had  been  educated  mainly  in  the 
West.  Of  the  first  twenty-eight  on  the  roll,  embracing 
a  period  of  twenty  years  of  its  history,  twenty-three 
were  educated  at  Cannonsburg,  and  at  the  Academies 
that  sprung  up  and  were  fostered  under  the  influence 
of  the  Presbytery.  And  of  the  same  twenty-eight, 
twenty-two  pursued  their  theological  studies  in  the  west, 
and  no  less  than  eighteen  at  Dr.  McMillan's  log-cabin. 
These  men  had  been  inured  to  labor.  Almost  every 
one  of  them  had  been  accustomed  to  the  work  of  sub- 
duinor  the  forest,  and  of  cultivatinoj  the  soil  from  child- 
hood.  Even  during  his  studies  at  Cannonsburg,  Robert 
Lee  was  engaged  in  clearing  land  from  forest  trees, 
and  in  order  not  to  trench  upon  the  hours  of  study 
and  recitation  had  labored  at  rolling  logs  and  kindling 
fires  at  night.  As  a  general  thing  then,  they  came 
to  the  duties  of  the  ministry  with  physical  constitutions 


8  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

matured  and  indurated  by  labor  and  exercise.  They 
were  enabled  at  once  to  endure  the  hardships  and 
privations  that  were  peculiar  to  frontier  life.  Not  only 
did  they  make  long  and  fatiguing  journeys  in  the  work 
of  organizing  and  supplying  churches  in  remote  places, 
but  were  obliged  also  to  labor  with  their  hands  in  se- 
curing a  support.  This  may  also  account  for  the  lon- 
gevity that  characterized  these  early  fathers.  They 
were  enterprising  men,  too.  They  saw  the  field  spread- 
ing before  them,  with  its  labors  and  its  promises ;  they 
had  girded  themselves  for  the  work,  and  neither  labor 
nor  peril  appalled  them.  Whether  they  set  out  for 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  or  plunged  into  the  wilderness 
seeking  the  red  man  of  the  forest  in  his  wild  haunts, 
it  mattered  not.  It  was  the  Lord's  work.  It  was  for 
this  they  had  entered  the  service ;  and  they  took  the 
labors  and  the  privations  as  matters  of  course. 

If  they  lacked  the  polish  and  accomplished  education 
that  pertain  to  more  modern  times,  they  possessed  that 
furniture  that  better  fitted  them  for  the  then  rude  con- 
tact with  Nature,  and  with  the  hardy  race  of  pioneers 
that  were  felling  the  mighty  forests  and  opening  up  the 
pathway  for  the  progress  of  Empire  in  its  mighty  West- 
ern march. 

Concerning  these  early  ministers,  there  yet  linger 
amongst  us  aged  fathers  and  mothers,  who  tell  us  won- 
drous things  of  their  power  and  eloquence,  and  many 
imagine  that  there  are  no  such  preachers  and  no  such 
preaching  at  the  present  day,  even  amid  the  most  effect- 
ive preachers  of  modern  times.  But  we  are  to  remem- 
ber the  times,  and  the  circumstances  in  which  they 
lived.  The  men  and  women  who  constituted  their 
hearers,  were  not  educated  as  hearers  are  educated  now. 
The  Bible  and  Psalm  Book,  Iving  on  the  window-sill, 


HISTORY.  9 

as  a  general  thing,  constituted  their  library.  And 
although  these  are  prime  sources  of  theology,  they 
were  read  as  books  of  devotion  —  as  daily,  spiritual 
bread  —  rather  thari  as  furnishing  the  mind  with  any 
regular  system  of  theology. 

They  were  thinking  men  and  women,  yet  was  their 
range  of  thought  circumscribed  within  narrow  bounds. 
Hence  the  preachers  labored  in  a  virgin  soil.  Grand 
new  truths  seemed  to  be  constantly  making  their  im- 
pression upon  the  minds  of  the  audience.  The  preach- 
er seemed  to  be  dispensing  blessings  fresh  from  the 
treasury  of  the  Lord.  His  warnings  and  reproofs  and 
expostulations  fell  like  fiery  barbed  arrows  upon  con- 
sciences not  yet  seared  by  constant  familiarity  with  the 
awful  -truths  of  God's  word.  And  the  sweet  and  pre- 
cious consolations  of  the  gospel  —  its  promises,  its 
hopes,  and  its  encouragements  —  were  healing  balm  and 
living  waters  to  the  faint  and  weary  soul  not  familiar 
with  these  sacred  things  from  childhood.  Added  to 
this,  there  was  that  profound  reverence,  amounting  al 
most  to  awe,  for  the  gospel  minister,  that  lifted  him  up 
above  the  sphere  of  the  common,  and  elevated  him 
almost  to  the  heiMit  of  the  anaels.  All  these  things 
conspired  to  give  the  old  fathers  an  influence  that  was 
most  important,  and  that  they  used  for  the  carrying  for- 
ward of  the  great  work  committed  to  their  care.  Bu^ 
it  is  possible  that  these  circumstances -gave  their  people 
an  exaggerated  estimate  of  their  power  and  ability. 
They  were,  many  of  them,  no  doubt  men  of  ability,  and 
circumstances  were  calculated  to  call  out  all  their 
strength  and  energy ;  yet  there  were  also  adverse  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  their  life  and  ministry. 
They  entered  upon  their  preparatory  studies,  as  a  gen- 
eral thing,  late  in  life,  when  their  habits  of  thought  and 


10  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

elasticity  of  mind  had  become  somewhat  fixed.  They 
entered  upon  the  labors  of  the  ministry  after  the  active 
powers  of  the  intellect  had  begun  to  settle  down  so  as 
not  to  be  readily  moved:  circumstances  certainly  not 
favorable  to  the  full  development  of  the  mind  and  the 
efficient  exercise  of  the  powers  of  thought  Their  edu- 
cation, too  was  oftentimes  defective.  A  few  years  in 
the  academy,  and  a  brief  period  with  some  hard-work- 
ing pastor  in  the  study  of  theology,  was  all  they  could 
hope  to  obtain  in  the  way  of  education.  They  had 
access  to  very  few  text  books,  and  those  perhaps  none 
of  the  best.  The  only  system  of  theology  that  the 
great  majority  of  them  had  was  Dr.  McMillan's  "  Lec- 
tures." These  they  copied  carefully  and  laboriously, 
and  bore  with  them  to  their  labors  for  future  reference 
and  authority.  Many  copies  of  these  "  Lectures  "  are 
still  in  existence  in  m^ny  part^  of  the  church,  all  of 
which  were  copied  in  the  seclusion  and  quiet  of  the 
old  log-cabin  that  constituted  the  first  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  AVest. 

Again,  these  primitive  ministers,  whatever  their  thirst 
for  knowledge  might  have  been,  had  not  access  to  books 
after  entering  upon  their  labors.  Books  were  rare 
treasures  then.  They  had  not  found  their  way  into  the 
wilderness  of  the  "West.  And  even  if  they  had,  the 
minister  had  neither  money  to  purchase  nor  time  to 
read.  Other  an"d  more  pressing  duties  would  have 
crowded  them  out.  Nor  had  they  leisure  for  that  close, 
patient  study,  that  is  favorable  to  the  highest  develop- 
ment of  mind.  Their  time  was  spent  either  in  the  sad- 
dle or  in  the  field.  Samuel  Tait,  the  pioneer  of  Mer- 
cer Count}',  made  his  preparation  for  the  pulpit  whilst 
following  the  plough.  His  Bible,  which  he  carried 
with  him  to  the  field,  was  his  library  ;  and  as  he  turned 


HISTORY.  11 

over  the  furrows,  and  scattered  the  seed,  he  thought  ol 
God's  husbandry,  and  wrought  out  his  sermons  as  best 
he  might.  And  in  addition  to  this,  there  was  the 
almost  constant  travelling  to  and  fro  connected  with 
missionary  work,  that  could  afford  but  little  time  for 
systematic  study. 

But  these  men  did  a  wondrous  work.  They  stood 
in  their  lot,  and  their  memory  should  be  revered  and 
loved  to  the  remotest  generations.  They  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  Zion  broad  and  deep,  and  the  results  remain 
unto  this  present  time.  The  remarks  just  made  are  not 
designed  to  take  a  single  leaf  from  the  chaplet  of  their 
fair  fame,  but  simply  to  arrive  at  the  truth  in  estimat- 
ing their  character  and  influence.  The  great  wonder  is, 
that  with  their  intellectual  furniture  and  widely  ex- 
tended labors,  they  were  able  to  make  so  broad  and 
deep  an  impression  upon  the  times  as  they  did. 

The  labors  of  these  men  were  most  arduous.  When 
the  Presbytery  w^as  organized,  there  were  but  seven 
ministers  to  enter  upon  the  work.  The  field  embraced 
what  now  constitutes  ten  or  twelve  counties  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio,  and  New  York.  There  were  a  few 
churches  organized,  perhaps  eight  or  ten.  But  they 
did  not  confine  themselves  to  these.  The  whole  field 
must  be  brought  under  cultivation.  New  churches 
must  be  organized.  Those  already  organized  must  be 
visited,  supplied,  and  strengthened.  DiflSculties  must 
be  removed,  discipline  administered,  and  the  ordinances 
dispensed.  Oftentimes,  long  missionary  tours  were 
undertaken,  sometimes  singly,  sometimes  two  and  two, 
for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  country,  and  preach- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  destitute.  Sometimes  this  preach- 
ing continued  day  after  day,  for  weeks.  The  services 
would  be   held  in  private  houses  at  first,  and  after  the 


12  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

progress  of  settlement  had  advanced,  in  school -houses  ; 
—  just  Avhere  a  few  neighbors  could  be  gathered  to- 
gether. Occasionally  the  minister  must  be  content  to 
lay  him  down  at  night  under  the  shadow  of  a  spreading 
tree,  with  the  stars  of  heaven  for  his  canopy,  and  the 
song  of  the  nightingale  for  his  lullaby,  with  no  even- 
ing repast  but  the  thought  of  God's  goodness  and  mercy 
and  faithfulness  to  those  who  lean  on  his  hand. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  there  was  not  a  bridge  from  the  Ohio  River  to 
Lake  Erie.  In  passing  to  and  fro,  the  streams  must  be 
forded,  or  if  this  was  impracticable  the  horse  must  swim 
and  bear  his  rider  on  his  back.  Often  has  the  mission- 
ary been  obliged  to  swim  the  creek  or  river  on  the  Sab- 
bath morning,  preach  in  his  dripping  garments,  and 
hasten  on  to  fulfill  some  other  appointment.  Instances 
are  on  record  where  the  missionary,  after  travelling  per- 
haps two  day's  journey  to  fulfill  an  appointment,  found 
on  Sabbath  morning  a  swollen  stream  between  him  and 
his  place  of  preaching,  that  could  not  possibly  be  crossed, 
and  so  returned  without  delivering  the  messao[e.  Nor 
was  it  an  unfrequent  thing  for  the  missionary  to  lose 
his  way  in  the  wilderness.  One  of  the  earlier  ministers, 
in  his  peregrinations  through  what  is  now  the  "  Oil 
region,"  losing  his  way,  finally  came  upon  an  Indian 
camp,  and  sought  shelter  for  the  night.  Some  bear 
meat  and  coarse  hominy  was  his  repast,  and  dried  skins 
his  bed.  In  the  morning  he  took  his  way  down  Oil 
Creek  to  the  Alleghany  and  thence  to  Franklin.  Some- 
times these  pioneers  on  their  missionary  journeys  took 
with  them  some  of  what  were  then  called  the  luxuries  of 
life,  not  expecting  to  find  these  in  the  cabins  of  the  set- 
tlers. On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Wood  (10)  placed  a  small 
package  of  tea  in  his  saddlebags,  thinking  that  a  cup 


HISTORY.  13 

of  the  beverage  that  "  cheers  but  not  inebriates  "  would 
be  grateful  after  a  weary  clay's  ride.  Finding  refuge  at 
night- fall  in  the  cabin  of  a  settler,  he  inquired  of  the 
hostess  if  she  had  any  tea.  She  replied,  "  No,  I  never 
had  any  in  my  house."  He  then  produced  his  little 
package  and  asked  her  to  prepare  him  some.  He 
busied  himself  about  his  own  thoughts,  until  supper 
was  announced.  Seating  himself  at  the  little  table  by 
the  wall,  he  looked  for  the  tea-pot,  and  not  seeing  any- 
thing that  looked  like  it  he  inquired  of  the  woman  for 
his  tea.  She  pointed  to  a  broad  earthen  dish,  where 
the  entire  paper  of  tea  stood,  dished  up  in  the  form 
of  greens. 

The  ministers  shared  with  the  people  all  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  the  settlement  of  a  new  country. 
They  built  their  cabins  of  the  rough  unhewn  logs  that 
were  cut  from  the  forest,  often  chinked  and  daubed 
them  with  their  own  hands,  and  as  far  as  time  would 
allow,  cleared  and  worked  their  own  fields.  Indeed  the 
probabilities  are,  that  without  this  manual  labor  they 
could  not  have  been  sustained  by  the  people.  Lands 
were  cheap,  and  almost  every  minister  for  the  first 
twenty  years  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery,  procured 
a  farm  and  proceeded  to  prepare  it  for  cultivation.  In 
process  of  time  these  farms  became  valuable,  and  were 
of  use  to  the  minister's  family,  and  as  a  resource  against 
old  age.  Occasionally  the  people  would  assemble  and 
assist  the  minister  in  his  logging,  ploughing,  and  har- 
vesting, and  thus  lighten  his  labor  and  afford  him  more 
time  to  devote  to  labor  of  a  spiritual  kind,  as  well  as 
show  their  appreciation  of  him  and  sympathy  in  his 
pursuits. 

The  mode  of  travelling  was  on  horseback.  All  the 
journeys  of  the  early  ministers  were  performed  in  this 


14  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

way,  not  only  in  their  missionary  expeditions,  but  in 
journeys  more  remote,  such  as  to  meetings  of  Synod, 
General  Assembly,  and  occasional  visits  to  the  older 
settlements.  When  Joseph  Stockton  with  his  young 
wife  moved  to  Meadville  to  settle,  in  1801,  the  journey 
was  made  on  horseback.  And  when  his  household 
effects  were  packed  up  it  was  with  reference  to  being 
borne  on  the  backs  of  horses.  And  when  Johnston 
Eaton  with  his  wife  removed  six  years  later,  from  near 
Uniontown,  Pa.,  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  everything 
that  was  necessary  to  the  comfort  or  convenience  of 
the  family  must  be  packed  in  long  boxes  or  trunks  and 
slung  upon  opposite  sides  of  horses,  and  be  in  this  way 
transported  through  the  woods  and  across  streams,  a 
distance  of  nearly  two  hundred  miles. 

Yet  the  success  of  these  hardy  pioneers  was  very 
great.  No  doubt  they  often  felt  sorely  cast  down,  as 
they  sat  beneath  the  shadows  of  the  evening,  crying  out 
"  Who  hath  believed  our  report,  and  to  whom  is  the 
arm  of  the  Lord  revealed,"  but  withal  they  had  much  to 
encourage  them.  There  was  a  willing  heart  on  the 
part  of  the  people  to  hear.  Though  poor,  they  were 
willing  to  share  their  labor  in  building  a  cabin  for  the 
minister  and  a  house  for  public  worship,  and  when 
necessary,  to  give  the  hard  earned  silver  dollar  to  sup- 
port the  institutions  of  religion.  Says  an  old  father  ^ 
who  yet  lingers  amid  the  scenes  of  the  church  militant : 
"  The  first  dollar  I  ever  gave  to  the  Lord  in  the  sup- 
port of  his  worship,  was  the  only  one  I  possessed  at  the 
time ;  and  it  was  given  as  cheerfully  as  I  have  ever 
given  one  since."  This  was  in  1800.  Samuel  Tait  (3), 
then  a  young  licentiate,  had  gone  out  to  what  is  now 
Mercer  County,  to  preach.  He  found  a  settlement  ^  five 
1  Thomas  Rice.  2  Cool  Spring. 


HISTORY.  15 

miles  from  the  present  site  of  Mercer,  and  made  an 
appointment  to  preach  on  the  Sabbath.  This  young 
man,  Thomas  Rice,  had  worked  the  week  before  at 
making  rails  on  the  very  spot  where  Mercer  now  stands, 
cutting  the  first  tree  that  was  felled,  and  had  received  a 
silver  dollar  as  the  proceeds  of  his  labor.  He  carried 
it  with  him  to  the  place  of  preaching  to  insure  its  safety. 
Mr.  Tait  preached  from  the  words,  "  And  they  all  with 
one  consent  began  to  make  excuse."  The  sermon  was 
blessed  to  the  conversion  of  several  persons,  amongst 
them  Thomas  Rice.  He  thought  he  then  and  there  was 
enabled  to  give  his  heart  to  God.  After  sermon  the  hat 
was  passed  around  to  take  up  a  collection  for  the  minis- 
ter, when  Thomas  Rice,  showing  his  faith  by  his  works, 
put  in  his  silver  dollar. 

It  is  astonishing  to  notice  the  amount  of  labor  that 
was  performed  by  these  men  during  the  first  years  of 
their  labor  in  the  new  territory.  Churches  seemed 
to  spring  up  everywhere.  Many  of  them  became  self- 
sustaining  in  a  very  short  time,  and  soon  began  to  send 
out  colonies,  forming  new  churches  that  in  turn  became 
self-sustaining.  The  foundations  of  Zion  were  firmly 
laid,  and  the  peculiar  and  distinctive  type  of  their  teach- 
ing became  deeply  impressed  upon  society.  In  many 
portions  of  the  territory  this  distinctive  character  of  doc- 
trine and  practice  remains  clearly  traceable  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

In  many  cases  the  harvest  seemed  to  succeed  the 
sowing  with  wondrous  rapidity.  Gracious  ingather- 
ings were  common  in  almost  all  the  churches,  and  in 
some  cases  where  the  regular  ministrations  of  the  gos- 
pel were  not  enjoyed.  Sometimes  the  spirit  was  poured 
out  so  copiously  that  a  large  proportion  of  the  hearers 
were  brought  into  the  church.     Robert  Johnston  (14) 


16  PRESET TEKY    OF   ERIE 

relates  that  during  a  revival  in  Scrubgrass  congregation, 
whilst  he  was  pastor  there,  fully  one  half  of  the  adult 
members  of  the  congregation  were  hopefully  converted. 
In  other  cases  the  seed  was  sown,  that  afterwards  ger- 
minated and  sprung  up,  producing  "  some  thirty  fold, 
some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred." 

Another  feature  in  the  policy  of  these  early  fithers 
was,  that  they  constantly  sought  out  promising  young 
men,  and  encouraged  them  to  make  preparation  for  the 
ministry.  Sometimes  they  instructed  them  at  their 
•own  houses,  sometimes  they  were  sent  to  Cannonsburg 
or  Greersburgh  ;  and  in  this  way  a  constant  succession 
of  ministers  were  raised  up,  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the 
country  and  prepared  for  labor  in  the  great  field. 

The  people  that  settled  this  new  territory  were 
mainly  from  the  eastern  counties  of  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia.  As  a  general  thing  they  were 
of  the  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  had  been  taught  the 
great  principles  of  the  gospel  at  home,  in  the  East. 
They  naturally  inclined  to  Presbyterianism  and  were 
attracted  to  Presbyterian  forms  of  worship.  They  were 
at  first  poor  in  this  world's  goods,  living  plainly  and 
quietly,  and  generally  supplying  their  wants  from  their 
own  resources.  Their  manners  and  customs  were  most 
primitive.  Articles  of  luxury  were  not  often  thought  of, 
as  utility  was  the  great  thought.  The  land  must  be 
cleared.  The  mighty  giants  of  the  forest  must  be 
felled,  and  their  trunks  burned  up,  to  allow  space  for 
the  plough.  Houses  must  be  built  to  acconmiodate 
the  family.  Food  and  clothing  must  be  furnished  for 
all.  To  bring  about  these  ends,  labor  and  toil  must  be 
endured.  The  neighborhood  combined  its  efforts  to 
bring  about  many  of  these  results.  The  neighbors 
would   assemble   for  chopping,   logging,   and  husking 


HISTORT.  17 

frolics,  as  they  were  termed.  When  a  house  was  to  be 
erected,  they  would  come  together  with  their  axes  and 
other  implement?,  cut  down  trees  of  a  suitable  size, 
reduce  them  to  a  proper  length,  and  bring  them  to  the 
ground  selected  as  the  site  for  the  house,  notch  the  ends 
for  the  corners,  and  place  them  in  position.  Others 
would  prepare  clapboards,  by  splitting  them  from  the 
trunk  of  a  solid  oak,  for  the  roof  These  were  kept  in 
position  by  logs  laid  upon  them,  keeping  them  down  by 
their  weight.  The  floors  were  made  of  puncheons 
split  from  smooth-grained  chestnut  or  oak.  The  places 
for  doors  and  windows  were  then  cut  out,  and  doors 
made  of  puncheons,  with  wooden  hinges  and  latches, 
completed  the  outside  of  the  building.  The  furniture 
on  the  inside  was  at  first  equally  primitive.  Bedsteads 
were  made  of  rough  poles.  Benches  and  tables  rudely 
constructed  with  the  axe  and  auger,  answered  the  pur- 
pose admirably.  In  such  houses  as  these,  the  early 
ministers  lived  and  raised  their  families.  When  father 
McGarraugh  (23)  came  to  what  is  now  Clarion  County, 
in  1804,  he  lived  for  one  year  in  a  cabin  about 
fifteen  feet  square,  with  a  door  made  of  chestnut  bark, 
that  had  been  first  dried  in  the  sun.  And  an  old  elder,^ 
yet  living,  relates  that  calling  once  in  about  1807  at  the 
cabin  of  Johnston  Eaton  (20)  on  the  Lake  shore,  he 
found  the  minister  and  his  wife  trying  to  keep  them- 
selves protected  from  the  beating  rain.  And  when  the 
ofiices  of  hospitality  required  that  a  fire  should  be 
kindled,  the  minister  pulled  the  bark  from  the  inner 
walls  of  the  house,  which  was  of  dry  logs,  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

In  such  houses  there  was  no  fire-place  with  jambs, 
but  simply  a  hearth  and  back  wall.     The  chimney  com- 

1  Wm.  Dickson. 
2 


18  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

menced  at  about  the  height  of  the  ceiling,  and  was  con- 
structed of  sticks  split  out  like  laths,  and  plastered  over 
with  moistened  clay.  The  house  usually  consisted  of  a 
sino-le  room.  Sometimes  two  cabins  were  built  about 
ten  or  twelve  feet  apart,  when  a  common  roof  ex- 
tended over  both,  leaving  a  kind  of  open  area  between. 
Church  buildings  were  built  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  dwellings.  Oftentimes  they  worshipped  in  the 
open  air,  with  what  was  called  a  tent  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  minister.  Generally  such  a  building 
was  completed  in  a  single  day,  with  all  its  appoint- 
ments. Frequently  there  was  not  a  single  nail  or  scrap 
of  metal  in  the  whole  building.  Weights  kept  the  clap- 
boards in  place,  and  pins  made  of  wood  furnished  the 
arrangements  for  the  doors  and  windows. 

In  Upper  Greenfield,  afterwards  called  Middlebrook, 
in  Erie  County,  such  a  church  was  erected.  The  peo- 
ple had  formed  a  little  settlement  ;  had  built  cabins 
for  themselves,  and  were  beginning  to  feel  comfortable 
in  a  worldly  point  of  view  ;  but  they  remembered  the 
churches  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania  from  which  they 
had  come,  and  resolved  to  build  a  house  for  the  Lord. 
The  neighborhood  assembled  one  morning  in  the  open- 
ino-  summer,  with  axes  and  oxen.  Trees  were  cut  down 
for  logs  and  clapboards,  the  logs  drawn  to  the  proper 
place,  notched  and  laid  in  position,  the  roof  and  floor 
laid,  and  the  house  completed  by  sundown. 

These  churches  were  usually  furnished  with  seats 
made  of  round  logs.  Sometimes  they  lay  upon  the 
ground,  at  other  times  they  were  raised  up  to  the  proper 
height  by  rude  legs.  Upon  these  logs  the  people  sat 
and  listened  to  the  word,  sometimes  relieving  their 
weariness  by  rising  and  standing  upon  their  feet  for  a 
time,  or  walking  about.     They  were   not  punctilious 


HISTORY.  19 

about  their  dresSj'^so  that  it  was  clean.  Very  frequently, 
in  summer,  the  men  went  to  church  without  coats. 
When  Mr.  Porter  returned  to  Westmoreland  County, 
after  visiting  Mr.  McPherrin's  congregation  near  But- 
ler, Pa.,  "  He  stated  that  Mr.  McPherrin  had  settled 
amongst  a  very  poor  people  ;  that  very  few  of  the  men 
wore  coats ;  and  that  these  coats  were  of  the  coarsest 
kind."  1 

The  people  manufactured  all  the  material  for  their 
own  clothing.  Flax  was  extensively  grown.  This  was 
broken  and  scutched  by  the  family,  and  afterwards  spun 
and  woven,  and  made  up  into  shirts  and  pantaloons. 
The  female  members  of  the  household  also  wore  cloth- 
ing made  from  it ;  and  from  the  same  staple,  table  and 
bed  linen  was  prepared.  Woolen  cloth  was  manufac- 
tured likewise  by  the  household.  Sometimes  a  mix- 
ture was  formed  of  wool  and  flax  combined,  making  an 
article  known  as  "  linsey  woolsey."  When  the  flannel 
was  woven  it  was  colored  in  a  strong  decoction  of  but- 
ternut bark,  and  for  the  fulling  process,  soap  and  water 
were  placed  on  the  cloth,  and  the  feet  of  the  young 
men  brought  into  requisition,  tramping  and  kicking  it 
until  fulled  and  thickened.  All  kinds  of  manufactur- 
ing were  carried  on  at  home,  so  that  even  in  the  depth 
of  the  forest  a  good  degree  of  independence  was  ob- 
tained. 

Leather  was  tanned  in  large  troughs  cut  from  the 
trunks  of  trees,  and  manufactured  into  shoes  by  the 
families  themselves.  Hats  were  made  of  straw  and 
leatherwood  bark,  and  caps  from  the  skins  of  furred 
animals.     Much  of  the  cabinet  and  chair  makinor  was 

o 

performed  at  home.     The  frame  of  the  chair  was  made 

of  wood,  unpainted  and  unturned,  and  the  seat  formed 

1  Dr.  Young's  Sermon. 


20  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

of  the  bark  of  the  slippery  elm,  or  of  splits  separated 
from  the  wood  of  the  black  ash,  by  pounding. 

Domestic  supplies  too  were  simple,  and  luxuries  few. 
The  field  supplied  grain  and  vegetables.  Coffee  was 
made  from  rye,  first  boiled,  and  then  roasted  like  the 
genuine  article.  Tea  was  sometimes  made  from  the 
boughs  of  the  hemlock,  and  sometimes  from  the  roots 
of  the  sassafras,  while  sugar  was  manufactured  from  the 
maple  trees  that  grew  in  the  forest.  For  a  time,  the 
great  want  was  mills  to  grind  the  grain.  It  was  carried 
great  distances  to  the  older  settlements,  and  much  of 
the  corn  was  pounded  in  mortars  for  hominy.  Salt  and 
iron  were  carried  on  the  backs  of  horses  from  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  mountains. 

Travelling  in  those  days  was  on  horseback.  The 
mode  of  going  to  church  was  to  bring  all  the  horses 
that  were  at  the  command  of  the  family  into  requisition, 
and  then  supplement  the  want  of  horse-power  by  walk- 
ing. A  family  of  six  might  frequently  be  seen  coming 
to  church  mounted  upon  two  horses.  The  father  would 
be  mounted  upon  one  horse,  with  the  oldest  child  be- 
hind him,  and  the  third  one  before  him ;  whilst  the 
mother  would  be  upon  the  other  horse,  with  the  infant 
in  her  arms,  and  the  second  in  age  behind  her.  Some- 
times the  mother  and  two  children  would  be  mounted 
on  a  solitary  horse,  whilst  the  father  walked  by  her  side 
with  his  coat  hung  over  his  arm.  Young  ladies  often 
walked  a  distance  of  several  miles  to  church,  and  in 
summer  would  carry  their  shoes  in  their  hands  until 
they  approached  the  place  of  worship,  when  they  would 
stop  by  the  wayside  and  place  them  upon  their  feet,  and 
be  prepared  to  present  a  respectable  appearance  at  the 
sanctuary.  In  the  early  days  the  services  of  the  Sab- 
bath were  usually  all  in  the  daj^-time.     They  consisted 


HISTORY.  21 

of  two  sermons,  with  a  recess  of  about  half  an  hour 
between.  During  this  half  hour  the  congregation  eat  the 
biscuits  they  had  brought  in  their  pockets,  walked  to 
the  spring  for  a  drink  of  water,  or  wandered  into  the 
burial  ground,  that  was  then  usually  connected  with  the 
church,  to  think  of  the  loved  ones  whose  dust  was  slum- 
bering there.  At  the  expiration  of  the  half  hour,  the 
congregation  would  assemble  as  though  by  a  similar 
impulse,  seat  themselves  reverently,  and  engage  in  the 
worship  of  God. 

In  those  days  the  singing  of  the  praise  of  God  was 
always  on  the  congregational  plan.  After  the  hymn 
had  been  announced,  one,  two,  or  three  persons,  called 
clerks,  took  their  position  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and 
"  lined  out,"  as  it  was  termed,  the  hymn.  The  name 
of  the  tune  proposed  to  be  sung  was  then  announced, 
when  the  clerk  led  the  way,  and  the  whole  congregation 
joined  in  the  singing.  This  lining  out  consisted  in  re- 
citing one  and  sometimes  two  lines  of  the  hymn  at  a 
time,  before  singing  them.  The  origin  of  the  custom 
arose,  perhaps,  in  part  from  the  scarcity  of  books,  and  in 
part  from  the  inability  of  many  of  the  people  to  read ; 
but  it  was  continued  long  after  both  of  these  difficulties 
had  been  removed.  In  fact,  it  became  actually  a  mat- 
ter of  conscience  with  many  of  the  old  fathers,  who 
insisted  that  the  lining  out  was  as  much  a  part  of  wor- 
ship as  the  singing  and  praying.  The  change  from 
lining  out  to  the  regular  singing  of  the  hymn  was  at- 
tended with  many  difficulties  and  disturbances  as  years 
rolled  by.  This  lining  out,  too,  had  many  grotesque 
features  connected  with  it,  that  were  not  perhaps  ob- 
served by  the  fathers.  It  was  not  simply  reading  the 
lines  in  a  sober,  decorous  tone  of  voice  ;  but  a  whining, 
nasal,  intoning  of  the  words,  marvelously  like  the  very 


22  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

poorest  class  of  singing  that  could  be  executed.  Yet 
the  people  became  accustomed  to  this  kind  of  per- 
formance, and  not  only  tolerated  it,  but  considered  it  a 
desideratum,  so  that  the  ability  to  "line  out"  properly 
became  quite  an  accomplishment. 

In  those  days  the  Sabbath  services  were  long  and 
tedious.  The  whole  day  was  usually  devoted  to  the 
service.  Soon  after  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
people  began  to  assemble,  and  it  was  nearly  night  when 
they  returned  home.  Long  psalms  or  hymns  were 
sung  ;  long  prayers  were  offered  up  ;  and  very  long  ser- 
mons were  preached.  If  the  day  was  warm  the  minister 
laid  off  his  coat  and  cravat,  and  proceeded  deliberately 
from  firstly  to  twelfthly.  The  ancient  mode  of  sermon- 
izing was  perhaps  formal,  yet  it  was  so  arranged  that  the 
hearers  could  readily  retain  it  in  their  memories.  The 
text  was  announced ;  then  followed  a  general,  easy  in- 
troduction to  the  whole  subject.  The  matter  was  usu- 
ally divided  into  three  general  heads,  and  these  subdivi- 
ded into  three  or  four  branches,  and  the  whole  wound 
up  with  the  application.  The  sermon  often  occupied  an 
hour  and  a  half,  making  some  three  hours  of  preaching, 
besides  the  other  parts  of  the  service.  Yet  the  people 
did  not  complain  of  weariness.  If  sleepy  or  weary  of 
sitting,  they  could  stand  up.  or  walk  about,  until  rested. 

Sacramental  occasions  were  great  days  in  the  history 
of  the  fathers.  They  usually  embraced  the  services  of 
four  days.  The  first  day  was  usually  Thursday,  and  set 
apart  as  a  "  Fast  Day."  It  was  observed  precisely  as 
the  Sabbath.  No  work  was  done,  and  everything  was 
quiet  throughout  whole  neighborhoods,  as  the  Sabbath 
itself  In  some  cases  it  was  observed  as  a  literal  fast 
day  by  abstaining  from  food,  but  when  this  was  not 
done,  there  was  abstinence  from  labor.     The  second 


HISTORY.  23 

day  of  the  service  was  Saturday,  and  after  the  preach- 
ing the  session  of  the  church  met  for  the  purpose  of 
receiving  applications  for  membership  in  the  church. 
"  Tokens"  were  also  distiibute'd  to  the  members  of  the 
church,  admitting  them  to  the  communion  the  following 
day.  These  "  tokens "  were  simple  bits  of  lead,  with 
the  initial  letters  of  the  name  of  the  congregation  upon 
them  ;  as  "  F.  C,"  denoting  "  Fairview  Congregation." 
These  bits  of  lead  were  distributed  by  the  pastor  and 
elders  on  Saturday  and  Sabbath  mornings  to  all  who 
wished  to  unite  in  communion,  or  who  were  in  good 
standing  in  the  church.  After  the  communicants  had 
seated  themselves  at  the  table,  the  elders  collected 
these  tokens,  when  the  services  proceeded.  This  prac- 
tice of  distributing  tokens  was  evidently  brought  from 
Scotland  and  Ireland.  Its  object,  no  doubt,  was  to  ex- 
clude unworthy  communicants,  especially  at  times  when 
a  large  number  present  were  strangers.  But  it  is  ex- 
tremely doubtful  whether  it  was  ever  of  any  practical 
advantage.  After  their  use  began  to  be  discontinued, 
a  good  old  elder  who  had  never  even  dreamed  that  a 
communion  could  be  held  without  them,  was  dreadfully 
horrified  by  a  facetious  minister  advising  him  to  put  his 
tokens  in  his  gun  and  shoot  them  at  the  crows. 

The  communion  Sabbath,  as  it  was  observed  by  our 
fathers,  has  been  thus  aptly  described  by  the  author  of 
"Old  Redstone  "1:  — 

"  The  action  sermo7is,  as  they  were  called,  on  com- 
munion Sabbaths,  were  generally  preached  by  the  pas- 
tors, or  resident  ministers  ;  this  was  considered  pecul- 
iarly proper.  And  we  must  remember  that  perhaps 
fully  one  half  of  the  audience  were  not  his  ordinary 
hearers.  Then  followed  what  was  called  fencing  the 
1  Page  158. 


24  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

tables.  This  was  often  tedious,  occupying  an  hour  or 
more.  Not  unfrequently  there  was  a  regular  review  of 
all  the  sins  forbidden  in  each  of  the  Ten  Command- 
ments. And  it  was  remarked  by  the  profane,  that  the 
preacher  never  stopped  until  he  had  solemnly  debarred 
from  the  ordinances  every  one  of  his  people,  and  him- 
self besides.  Our  old  ministers,  however,  seldom  in- 
dulged in  such  lengthened  details  as  the  Seceders  were 
said  to  be  in  the  practice  of  doing,  forbidding  and  de- 
barring various*  classes  of  offenders,  that  were  not  to 
be  found  among  them,  such  as  stage-players  and  vis- 
itants of  theatres  ;  and  yet  it  must  be  confessed  that 
our  venerable  fathers  took  this  occasion  to  pour  out  a 
great  deal  '  de  omnibus  rebus,  et  quibusdem  aliis.'  " 

Concerning  this  same  matter  of  fencing  tables,  there 
was  no  doubt  call  for  admonition  and  warning,  yet 
withal  it  savored  of  harshness  and  severity.  It  must 
have  been  oftentimes  gall  and  wormwood  to  the  trem- 
bling, fearful  Christian,  needing,  instead  of  such  words, 
encouragement  and  assurance.  One  who  remembers 
those  old  scenes,  makes  the  remark  that  on  such  occa- 
sions there  were  usually  two  ministers,  one  of  whom 
debarred  every  person  from  coming  by  the  strictness  of 
his  charge  ;  when  the  other  would  censure,  and  upbraid, 
and  reproach  every  one  for  not  coming,  when  the  invi- 
tation was  so  free.  It  must  be  confessed  that  in  those 
days  the  spirit  of  John  the  Baptist  seemed  to  charac- 
terize the  preaching,  more  than  that  of  John  the  beloved 
disciple. 

The  ordinance  was  in  those  days  always  connected 
with  the  literal  use  of  tables.  Sometimes  there  was 
accommodation  for  all  to  partake  at  the  same  time ;  if 
not,  there  were  two  or  more  tables  just  as  circumstances 
might  require.     In  this  way  the  services  became  often 


HISTORY.  25 

very  tedious  and  even  exhausting.  There  were  usually 
two  or  more  ministers  in  attendance,  who  divided  the 
labors  between  or  amongst  them.  Still  the  exercises  on 
such  occasions  were  exhausting. 

Oftentimes  these  services  were  held  in  the  woods. 
Indeed  this  was  usually  the  case  in  the  summer  season, 
for  no  house  of  worship,  then  in  use,  would  have  con- 
tained the  people.  This  woods'  service  was  in  connec- 
tion with  what  was  called  a  tent,  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  ministers.  The  tent  was  simply  a  stand,  such  as 
is  used  at  political  and  Fourth  of  July  meetings  at  the 
present  time.  The  seats  were  simple  logs  raised  to  the 
proper  height,  with  intervening  aisles  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  people. 

The  fourth  day  of  the  service  was  Monday  following 
the  Sabbath,  when  the  services  were  concluded.  To 
these  old-fashioned  communion  services,  the  people 
came  from  far  and  near.  It  was  nothing  unusual  to  come 
a  distance  of  ten  or  twelve  miles.  It  was  also  usual  for 
strangers  to  spend  the  evenings  of  Saturday  and  Sab- 
bath in  the  congregation,  and  many  a  house  in  near 
proximity  to  the  place  of  worship  was  literally  packed 
with  guests  ;  and  these  guests  expected  to  enact  the 
part  of  host  to  their  entertainers  on  some  similar  occa- 
sion. In  this  way  sociability  was  cultivated,  as  well  as 
practical  godliness. 

Great  attention  was  paid  to  the  Shorter  Catechism. 
All  parents  were  expected  to  have  it  taught  to  their 
children,  and  to  retain  it  likewise  in  their  own  memo- 
ries. No  one  was  supposed  to  be  too  old  to  be  called 
on  to  repeat  his  "  Questions."  Indeed  it  was  custom- 
ary to  have  the  catechism  taught  in  the  common  schools. 
Nor  was  it  common  to  find  any  objections  raised  to  the 
practice  in  the  schools.     It  was  the  custom  to  have  the 


26  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

questions  asked  in  families  every  Sabbath  evening,  in 
the  assembled  household.  In  addition  to  this,  the  min- 
ister examined  the  entire  congregation  once  in  each 
■year.  Usually  during  one  year,  whilst  making  pastoral 
visitations,  the  catechism  was  reviewed  in  each  family, 
separately  ;  during  the  next  year  public  examinations 
were  held  in  certain  districts  of  the  conorrcCTation.  when 
all  had  an  opportunity  of  showing  their  promj^tness  and 
diligence  in  this  matter. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances,  and  in  these  times, 
that  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  the  mother  Presbytery  of 
the  Synod  of  Alleghany,  set  up  its  gates  and  entered 
upon  its  great  work.  From  feeble  beginnings,  it  grad- 
ually extended  its  influence  until  it  became  the  mother 
of  Presbyteries,  and  sent  its  missionaries  to  the  aborig- 
ines of  our  own  country,  to  the  far  distant  nations  of 
heathenism,  as  well  as  to  every  State  and  Territory  of 
the  Great  West. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FROM    THE     ERECTION     OF     THE     PRESBYTERY,    TO    THE 
FIRST    DIVISION. 

1801-1808. 

The  Presbytery  of  Erie  was  erected  by  the  Synod  of 
Virginia,  in  1801.  It  was  the  third  Presbytery  that 
was  organized,  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 
Redstone  had  been  organized  in  1781,  and  Ohio  in 
1798.  The  territory  of  these  latter  Presbyterians  was 
large,  and  the  way  opening  for  the  rapid  spread  of 
population ;  and  material  seemed  abundant  for  a  new 
Presbytery.  Presbyterianism  was  aggressive  as  re- 
garded the  world  and  Satan,  and  its  founders  here  were 
fully  up  to  the  times  and  to  its  spirit.  So  they  desired  a 
new  Presbytery,  that  the  new  and  promising  field  might 
be  more  readily  occupied.  There  was  probably  another 
reason  for  its  formation.  The  territory  was  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia.  The  journey  to  meet- 
ings of  Synod  was  laborious  and  burdensome.  The 
"Western  members  must  cross  the  mountains  and  be  ex- 
posed not  only  to  fatigue  but  actual  danger  in  accom- 
plishing it.  Besides,  the  great  work  of  keeping  the  in- 
stitutions of  religion  abreast  with  the  extending  settle- 
ment of  the  country  could  be  best  attended  to  by, erect- 
ing a  Synod  upon  the.  new  territory.  This  could  only 
be  done   by  first  erecting  a  third   Presbytery.      Ac- 


28  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

cordingly,  on  petition  of  the  members  of  the  Presby- 
teries of  Redstone  and  Ohio,  the  new  Presbytery  was 
erected.  The  following  is  the  minute  of  Synod  in  the 
matter :  — 

"  At  a  meeting  of  Synod  held  at  Winchester  (Va.), 
October  2d,  1801,  at  the  mianimous  request  of  the 
members  present  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone 
and  Ohio,  the  Synod  did  and  hereby  do  erect  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  [Edgar^]  Hughes  (1),  William 
Wick  (2),  Samuel  Tait  (3),  Joseph  Stockton  (4),  and 
Robert  Lee  (5),  together  with  all  the  congregations 
north  and  northwest  of  the  Ohio  and  Alleghany  riv- 
ers, unto  the  place  where  the  Ohio  River  crosses  the 
western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  into  a  separate 
Presbytery,  to  be  called  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  ap- 
pointed their  first  meeting  to  be  held  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, on  the  second  Tuesday  of  April  next.  William 
Wick  was  appointed  to  open  the  Presbytery  with  a 
sermon,  and  to  preside  until  a  new  Moderator  be 
chosen." 

In  obedience  to  this  order  of  Synod,  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie  met  at  Mount  Pleasant  in  Beaver  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, at  the  time  appointed,  April  13, 1802,  and  was 
opened  with  a  sermon  by  Mr.  Wick,  on  the  words,  "  And 
the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder"  (Isaiah 
ix.  6). 

After  constituting  with  prayer,  the  following  persons 
were  found  present  to  be  enrolled,  namely:  Thomas 
Edgar  Hughes,  Wilham  Wick,  Samuel  'J'ait,  Joseph 
Stockton,,  and  Robert  Lee,  ministers,  with  three  elders, 
William  Plumer,  John  Menteith,  and  William  Waddell. 
James  Satterfield  (6)  and  William  Wylie  (7)  having 
settled  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery  since  the  ac- 
1  The  middle  name  does  not  occur  in  the  minute. 


HISTORY.  29 

tion  of  Synod,  and  having  been  dismissed  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio  for. the  purpose,  were  considered 
as  members,  and  their  names  enrolled.  Elder  Ithiel 
Dodd  was  enrolled  on  the  second  day  of  the  session. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Mr.  Tait 
Clerk  for  the  ensuing  year.  Mr.  Wick  was  the  first 
stated  clerk  of  Presbytery.  The  territory  embraced  by 
the  new  Presbytery  was  taken  from  that  of  Eedstone 
and  Ohio,  although  all  the  original  members  were  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  This  territory  was 
large,  embracing  what  are  now  the  counties  of  Beaver, 
Butler,  Mercer,  Crawford,  Erie,  Lawrence,  and  Venango, 
with  portions  of  Warren  and  Clarion,  in  Pennsylvania, 
the  whole  of  the  Western  Reserve  in  Ohio,  with  Chau- 
tauque  County,  New  York. 

The  seven  ministers  who  were  now  upon  the  roll  of 
Presbytery  were  all  settled  at  this  time.     Mr.  Hughes 
was  pastor  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  New  Salem.     He 
had  been  ordained  and  installed  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1799,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.     Mr.  Wick  was  pas- 
tor at  Hopewell,  now  in  Lawrence    County,  Pa.,  and 
Youngstown,  now  in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio.     He  had 
been  ordained  and  installed  on  the  3d  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1800,  by  the  same  Presbytery.    Mr.  Tait  was  pastor 
of  Cool  Spring  and  Upper  Salem,  in  Mercer  County, 
Pa,,  ordained  and  installed  November  19,  1800.     Mr. 
Stockton  was  pastor  at  Meadville  and  Sugar  Creek  (now 
Cochranton),   Crawford  County,  Pa.,  ordained  and  in- 
stalled June  24,  1801.     Mr.  Lee  was  pastor  at  Rocky 
Spring  and  Amity,  Mercer  County,  Pa.    He  had  been 
ordained  and  installed  June  26, 1801.     Mr.  Satterfield 
was   pastor   at   Moorfield,   and    Neshannock,    Mercer 
County,    Pa.,  ordained  and   installed  March   3,   1802. 
Mr.  Wylie  was  pastor  at  Fairfield  and  Upper  and  Lower 


30  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

Sandy,  in  Mercer  and  Venango  counties,  ordained  and 
installed  March  5th,  1802. 

Mr.  Hughes,  who  heads  the  long  roll  of  this  Presby- 
tery, was  the  first  minister  settled  in  the  territory  north 
and  northwest  of  the  Ohio  and  Alleghany  rivers.  The 
nucleus  of  his  charge  was  constituted  of  several  families 
that  had  emigrated  from  Washington  and  Westmore- 
land counties,  and  settled  on  the  Beaver  River,  some 
ten  or  twelve  miles  above  the  town  of  Beaver,^  The 
war-whoop  of  the  Indian  was  still  heard  and  his  war- 
path still  traced,  at  the  time  of  their  coming.  There 
were  a  number  of  pious  families  in  this  settlement,  and 
feeling  the  importance  of  the  regular  ministry,  they 
applied  to  Dr.  McMillan  and  other  of  the  pioneer  min- 
isters to  send  one  of  their  young  men  to  settle  among 
them  as  their  pastor.  Mr.  Hughes,  a  graduate  of 
Princeton  College,  who  had  just  completed  his  theolog- 
ical studies  at  Dr.  McMillan's  log  seminary,  was  sent  to 
visit  them.  "  He  was,"  says  Mr.  Munson  (28),  "a  young 
man  of  good  address,  of  ardent  feelings,  and  of  genuine 
piety.  I  subsequently  became  a  member  of  his  church, 
and  well  remember  the  searching  nature  of  his  preach- 
ing. He  labored  much  to  remove  all  false  confidence, 
and  to  shake  to  the  foundation  all  deceptive  hopes." 

Mr.  Hughes  continued  the  jDastor  of  the  church  of 
Mount  Pleasant  more  than  thirty  years.  Many  interest- 
ing incidents  are  related  in  connection  with  his  life  and 
labors  at  this  place.  The  following  was  communicated 
by  a  member  of  the  church,  who  was  present  at  the 
time  of  the  occurrence.  The  congregation  had  assem- 
bled in  a  grove  on  a  communion  occasion.  The  com- 
municants were  about  going  to  the  tables,  when  the 
heavens  became  overcast.  The  clouds  rolled  their 
1  Munson's  letter  to  Dr.  Plumer,  Pres.  Mag.  vii.  463. 


HISTORY.  31 

sombre  folds  athwart  the  sky,  and  there  was  every  ap- 
pearance of  a  great  rain.  Mr.  Hughes  arose  and 
prayed  most  earnestly,  that,  if  consistent  with  the 
Divine  will,  the  rain  might  be  stayed,  and  his  people 
permitted  to  commune  in  peace.  After  this,  it  was 
noticed  by  the  whole  assemblage,  that  the  clouds 
quickly  dispersed,  and  there  was  no  rain. 

Mr.  Wick  was  the  pioneer  missionary  in  the  Western 
Reserve,  or  New  Connecticut,  as  it  was  then  called. 
For  some  time  he  labored  alone,  serving  his  people 
at  Youngstown  and  Hopewell,  and  making  occasional 
tours  amongst  the  Indians.  Pie  retained  his  first  charge 
until  his  death  in  1815. 

Mr.  Tait  had  much  of  the  missionary  spirit.  He 
was  endued  with  great  physical  strength  and  endu- 
rance, and  used  them  well  in  the  Master's  cause.  Having 
been  sent  out  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  in  the  spring  of 
1800,  to  preach  where  he  could  find  hearers,  he  came  to 
a  settlement  called  Cool  Spring,  in  Mercer  County,  Pa., 
and  about  five  miles  from  where  tlie  town  of  Mercer  now 
stands.  Having  preached  on  the  Sabbath,  he  told  the 
people  that  if  they  would  procure  a  lot  and  build  a 
church,  he  would  come  and  preach  to  them.  A  lot  was 
at  once  promised,  and  the  next  Thursday  appointed  as 
the  day  when  the  people  would  assemble  to  build  a 
meeting-house.  On  the  day  appointed  they  assembled 
with  their  axes.  The  site  was  selected.  "  Axes  were 
lifted  up  upon  the  thick  trees,"  the  forest  resounded 
with  the  blows  made  by  sinewy  and  willing  arms.  The 
bodies  of  the  rough  logs  were  cut  off  the  proper  length, 
but  were  too  heavy  to  be  brought  into  position,  al- 
though near  to  the  site  of  the  buildinor.  There  was  but 
one  team  in  all  the  settlement,  and  that  was  a  yoke  of 
oxen  belonging  to  a  professed  infidel.      It  would  not  do 


32  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

to  ask  him  to  bring  his  team  for  such  a  purpose.  Just 
as  the  necessity  became  pressing,  Mr.  S.  was  seen 
approaching  with  his  oxen,  crying  out  with  his  great 
merry  voice,  "  Here  comes  the  devil  with  his  oxen,  to 
help  you  build  your  meeting-house."  The  work  then 
went  gayly  forward. 

The  next  important  thing  was  the  appearance  of 
Thomas  McLean,  with  a  small  flat  keg  of  whiskey  under 
his  arm.  This  was  placed  in  Mr.  Tait's  hands,  when  all 
took  a  drink,  beginning  with  the  minister  and  ending 
with  the  donor  himself.  Three  cheers  were  then  given 
for  Thomas  McLean,  with  the  promise  that  when  the 
church  was  organized  he  should  be  the  first  elder. 
This  promise  was  afterward  fulfilled  and  Mr.  McLean 
was  the  first  elder  that  was  elected. 

By  sundown,  the  church  was  built,  covered  with  clap- 
boards, floored  with' puncheons,  and  round  logs  rolled 
in  for  seats.  The  house  was  so  located  that  a  huge 
stump  answered  the  purpose  of  a  pulpit,  with  two 
puncheons  set  upright  in  front,  and  one  across  secured 
to  the  uprights  with  pins,  on  which  the  Bible  might  be 
placed.  A  puncheon  seat  for  the  minister  completed 
the  arrangement.  Here  was  a  building  that  afforded 
the  people  ample  room  and  abundant  comfort  in  the 
worship  of  God. 

But  luxury  soon  began  to  creep  in  to  trouble  the 
church.  After  a  time  one  of  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation had  a  bench  made  and  set  in  the  church  for 
his  family  to  sit  upon.  During  the  recess  on  the  next 
day  of  worship,  little  groups  might  have  been  seen  dis- 
cussing the  matter  of  the  new  bench  ;  some  affirming 
that  such  pride  should  not  be  tolerated,  and  that  if  his 
neighbors  could  sit  on  a  log  to  hear  the  gospel  preached, 
William  McMillan  could  do  the  same,  as  neither  he  nor 


HISTORY.  33 

his  family  were  better  than  others.  Others  affirmed 
that  if  William  McMillan  could  afford  a  bench  with 
legs  to  it,  he  had  a  right  to  have  one.  The  contention, 
like  that  between  Paul  and  Barnabas,  waxed  exceeding 
sharp,  but  was  finally  settled  by  the  minister  declaring 
for  the  largest  liberty,  each  one  being  permitted  to  pro- 
vide such  a  seat  as  he  chose. 

Soon  the  first  house  was  found  too  small  to  contain 
the  people.  The  difficulty  was  remedied  by  cutting  out 
the  logs  from  one  side  of  the  building  and  erecting  a 
kind  of  shed  as  an  addition.  Subsequently,  as  the  con- 
gregation increased,  another  shed  was  erected  on  the 
other  side. 

Joseph  Stockton  was  probably  the  youngest  man  ever 
ordained  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  He  was  but 
a  few  months  past  twenty  at  the  time  of  his  licensure, 
and  a  little  past  twenty-two  at  his  ordination.  His 
pastorate  of  ten  years,  at  Meadville,  was  succeeded  by 
labors  in  teaching  and  the  preparation  of  school  books. 

Robert  Lee  was  twenty-nine  years  of  age  when  he 
entered  the  ministry.  His  was  a  life  of  labor,  accom- 
panied with  a  calm  patience  and  patriarchal  dignity  that 
was  peculiar  to  his  age. 

James  Satterfield,  with  his  tall,  erect  form  and  self- 
denying  labor,  won  a  respect  that  was  remarkable  even 
in  his  day.  He  was  a  godly  man  and  lived  very  near  to 
Christ. 

Dr.  William  Wylie,  the  last  of  those  who  constituted 
the  first  Presbytery,  was  a  zealous  pastor  and  a  most 
earnest  preacher.  His  letters  that  are  extant,  and  writ- 
ten during  his  last  days,  possess  a  wondrous  savor  of 
piety  and  a  richness  of  unction  that  would  place  them 
on  a  level  with  those  of  Rutherford. 

Of  the  four  elders  at  this  meeting,  William  Plumer 


34  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

was  the  father  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Plumer,  D.  D.,  and  Ithiel 
Dodd  belonged  to  a  family  for  two  centuries  remark- 
able for  two  characteristics  —  piety,  simple  and  child- 
like, and  a  talent  for  mathematics. 

The  first  two  licentiates  that  were  taken  mider  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery,  were  John  (8)  and  Abraham 
Boyd  (9).  They  were  two  Irish  boys,  educated  in  this 
<;ountry  and  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 
In  those  days,  "  supplications "  for  supplies  were  the 
.constant  order  of  the  day.  At  the  first  meeting,  there 
were  supplications  from  "  Slippery  Rock,  Westfield, 
Lower  Neshannock,  Breakneck,  Thorn's  Tent,  Concord, 
Franklin,  Big  Sugar  Creek,  Oil  Creek,  Gravel  Run, 
Upper  and  Lower  Greenfield,  Middlebrook,  Presque 
Isle,  Powers'  Mills,  Crossings  of  Cussawaga  and  Pyma- 
tuning." 

The  infant  Presbytery  seems  to  have  set  up  its  ban- 
ners in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Almost  the  first  reso- 
lution passed  was,  to  seek  God's  help  in  the  great  work  : 
"  Presbytery  taking  into  consideration  their  infant 
state,  and  the  growing  prospects  of  the  new  settlement 
under  their  care,  and  the  necessity  of  Divine  influence 
to  aid  and  direct  them  in  their  arduous  work,  do  re- 
solve to  spend  part  of  to-morrow  in  supplication  and 
prayer." 

The  matter  of  education,  and  facilities  for  the  prep- 
aration of  young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry,  occupied 
the  attention  of  Presbytery  at  its  first  meeting.  Their 
resolution  is  to  this  effect :  "  Presbytery  proceeded  to 
take  into  consideration  the  necessity  of  a  seminary  of 
learning  being  instituted  within  their  bounds  for  the 
education  of  youth  ;  Resolved,  To  give  their  aid  to  erect 
an  academy  at  Greersburgh,  and  to  solicit  the  aid  of 
their  respective  charges."     Greersburgh  is  now  known 


HISTORY.  35 

as  Darlington,  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.  This  academy 
was  long  an  efficient  aid  in  the  great  work  of  fitting  young 
men  for  the  ministry.  Sometimes  they  pursued  their 
studies  there  preparatory  to  Jefferson  College,  but  many 
received  all  their  classical  education  within  its  walls. 

It  was  commenced  in  1806.  The  legislature  of  the 
State  appropriated  six  hundred  dollars  towards  it,  when 
the  charter  was  granted.  The  first  teacher  was  Mr. 
Hughes  ;  afterwards  it  was  taught  by  Rev.  Robert  Dil- 
worth,  D.  D.  This  academy  was  the  result,  principally, 
of  the  labors  of  Mr.  Hughes,  who  travelled  over  the 
New  England  States,  soliciting  funds  for  its  establish- 
ment. Before  the  erection  of  the  academy  building, 
he  built  a  log  cabin  near  his  own  residence  that  served 
as  a  school-room. 

At  this  meeting  the  Boyd  brothers,  having  accepted 
calls  to  settle  within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  were 
examined  with  a  view  to  ordination,  and  were  assigned 
subjects  for  trial  sermons  to  be  delivered  at  the  next 
meeting. 

Messrs.  Tait  and  Satterfield  were  the  first  Commis- 
sioners to  the  General  Assembly.  Presbytery  adjourned 
to  meet  at  Union,  Armstrong  County,  on  the  loth  of 
June,  1802,  with  the  following  order:  "That  mem- 
bers endeavor  to  bring  forward,  at  our  next  fall  meet- 
ing, an  account  of  the  time  of  their  settlement,  state  of 
religion,  number  of  families  and  communicants,  and  the 
number  of  baptisms  in  the  congregations  under  their 
care," 

And  thus  the  Presbytery  commenced  its  labors,  few 
in  number  yet  strong  in  faith.  There  was  much  land 
to  be  possessed,  yet  they  trusted  in  God,  and  went  for- 
ward. 

In  addition  to  the  preaching  of  Mr.  Hughes  in  the 


36  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

southern  portion  of  the  territory,  perhaps  the  first  in 
the  extreme  north  was  during  the  celebrated  tour  of 
Elisha  Mc Curdy  and  Joseph  Stockton.  This  was  in 
1799.  They  preached  at  Sandy  (perhaps  the  present 
Georgetown),  Meadville,  Waterford,  Erie,  North  East, 
and  other  places.^  In  1802  another  missionary  tour 
through  the  same  region  was  undertaken  by  Mc  Curdy, 
Satterfield,  and  McPherrin  (16),  with  McCurdy's  "  pray- 
ing elder,"  Philip  Jackson,  organizing  churches  and 
strenortheninor  the  brethren. 

At  this  time  the  churches  of  Upper  and  Lower 
Greenfield  were  organized  in  Erie  County,  Pa.  There 
were  many  people  scattered  through  this  region  who 
had  come  from  the  counties  east  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  and  some  from  Washington  and  Westmore- 
land, west  of  the  mountains.  They  remembered  the 
God  of  their  fathers,  and  welcomed  the  pioneer  minis- 
ters most  gladly.  There  was  a  large  Presbyterian  ele- 
ment in  all  their  early  settlements,  and  for  very  many 
years  the  great  religious  element  of  the  country  was  of 
this  type  of  faith. 

The  organization  of  a  church  there  was  a  most 
important  era  in  the  history  of  the  people,  and  the  dis- 
pensing of  the  ordinances  made  them  feel  that  the 
trials  and  privations  of  the  new  settlements  were  pass- 
ing away. 

And  when  the  people  of  what  is  now  Venango  Town- 
ship, Erie  County,  Pa.,  met  together  to  build  a  house  of 
worship,  it  was  a  matter  of  more  interest  to  them  than 
they  had  felt  in  the  erection  of  their  own  houses.  It 
was  with  the  thought  that  God  would  be  with  them, 
and  be  their  God. 

We  have  a  minute  account  of  the   building  of  this 

*  Dr.  Elliott's  Life  of  Mc  Curdy,  p.  29. 


HISTORY.  37 

house,  and  the  circumstances  attending  it,  in  an  old 
journal  written  by  William  Dickson,  Esq.,  formerly  of 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  but  now  of  Camden,  Illinois.  An  ex- 
tract follows :  — 

"  Some  time  in  August,  1801,  a  notice  was  sent  to  Mr. 
James  Hunter,  an  old  man,  who  the  spring  previous 
had  emigrated  to  what  is  now  Venango  Township,  Erie 
County.  He  had  been  an  elder  in  Dr.  Bryson's  church 
in  Northumberland  County,  and  was  to  notify  the  people 
that  the  Rev.  James  Satterfield  (6),  a  missionary,  would 
preach  at  a  place  designated  by  them,  on  the  following 
Sabbath.  The  notice  was  given,  I  believe,  to  every  in- 
dividual in  the  township ;  and  the  place  fixed  upon  for 
the  meeting  was  at  a  '  chopping'  made  by  Robert  Don- 
aldson, on  the  bank  of  French  Creek,  near  the  centre  of 
the  town.  Four  or  five  of  us,  all  young  men,  went  on 
the  ground  on  Saturday,  to  prepare  a  place  for  worship. 
We  selected  a  spot  under  a  large  beech-tree  ;  we  split 
a  large  log,  turning  the  split  sides  up,  and  raising  them 
a  little  from  the  ground  made  a  platform.  We  then 
squared  a  block  for  a  seat,  placing  it  on  the  platform 
near  the  tree,  which  made  a  good  stiff  backing  ;  we 
then  drove  two  stakes  into  the  ground  in  front,  pinning 
and  nailing  a  clapboard  across  the  top,  to  lay  the  Bible 
and  Psalm  Book  on.  I  am  thus  particular  in  describing 
the  first  pulpit  from  which  I  ever  heard  the  gospel  in 
Erie  County. 

"  Sabbath  morning  came,  and  every  man  and  woman 
within  our  township  was  gathered,  I  believe,  around  the 
beech-tree.  About  the  hour  appointed,  the  minister 
came ;  he  had  lost  his  way  the  evening  previous,  hav- 
ing nothing  but  marked  trees  for  a  guide,  and  had  lain 
out  all  night.  In  the  morning  he  found  a  cabin  where 
two  young  men  lived ;  they  gave  him  a  good  breakfast 


38  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

of  Indian  bread  and  potatoes,  and  having  his  inner  man 
strengthened,  he  appeared  to  come  unto  the  work  in 
the  Spirit,  and  preached  two  sermons,  and  administered 
the  ordinance  of  baptism.  He  stated  it  was  possible 
the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  would  send  us  some  more 
preaching  that  Fall.  After  preaching,  and  before  the 
people  dispersed,  Mr.  Hunter  called  several  of  us  young 
men  around  him,  and  said,  '  Boys'  (for  by  that  name 
he  always  called  us),  '  I  want  you  all  to  meet  me  at  a 
certain  land  corner  (naming  it)  on  next  Thursday 
morning  early,  and  bring  your  axes  and  dinners  with 
you.'  That  was  enough  ;  we  all  knew  what  was  want- 
ing, and  at  the  time  appointed  we  were  there  almost  to 
a  man.  The  old  man  then  stated  the  reasons  for  call- 
ing us  together.  He  said  the  Lord  had  been  mindful 
of  us  in  that  wilderness,  and  had  sent  us  the  gospel  by 
the  mouth  of  one  of  his  servants,  and  we  had  no  house 
to  meet  in,  but  heard  it,  as  you  know,  under  the  beech- 
tree,  in  the  open  air.  Now,  if  we  wish  to  prosper, 
while  we  build  houses  for  ourselves,  we  must  build 
one  for  God  ;  and  he  had  selected  that  spot,  as  it  was 
the  centre  of  the  township. 

"  As  the  large  hemlock-tree  which  marked  the  cor- 
ner stood  in  a  swamp,  —  a  place  by  no  means  suitable 
for  our  purpose,  —  a  young  man,  whose  name  was  War- 
ren, said  that  if  we  would  a2:ree  to  so  a  half  or  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  north,  he  would  show  us  a  good 
place  on  his  land,  where  there  was  a  fine  spring  of 
water,  and  he  would  give  us  a  deed  of  two  acres,  if 
we  chose  that  spot. 

"  As  it  would  shorten  Father  Hunter's  distance  in 
coming  to  meeting,  which  was  no  small  consideration 
with  us,  we  at  once  shouldered  our  axes  and  followed 
our  leader  to  the  spot ;  and  that  day,  before  sundown, 


HISTORY.  39 

we  had  cleared  the  ground,  and  built  a  habitation  for 
the  Most  High  to  dwell  in.^  In  the  evening,  before  we 
parted,  Father  Hunter  called  us  around  a  large  stump, 
and  explained  the  propriety  of  supporting  the  gospel. 
He  said  that  those  men  who  came  to  preach  to  us,  suf- 
fered so  much  in  travelling  through  the  wilderness  that 
they  ought  to  be  well  paid,  and  it  would  be  best  for  us 
to  have  a  fund  on  hand  for  that  purpose.  He  also  said 
that  he  had  made  a  calculation  of  the  amount  required 
to  begin  with,  and  it  would  be  best  to  appoint  a  treas- 
urer, and  each  one  pay  twenty  -  jRve  cents.  We  all 
stepped  up  to  the  stump  and  laid  down  our  money, 
mostly  fifty  cents  ;  when  we  had  all  paid,  the  good  old 
man  laid  down  a  dollar ;  and  on  seeing  him  do  so,  one 
of  the  party  said  :  '  Father  Hunter,  you  shall  not  go 
ahead  of  me,'  and  took  up  the  fifty  cents  he  had  paid 
and  laid  down  a  dollar.  Thus  commenced  a  fund 
which  never  failed  during  my  residence  in  that  con- 
gregation of  over  twelve  years,  and  I  never  knew  a 
minister  to  preach  in  that  place  (who  was  a  Presby- 
terian) but  was  paid  promptly.  A  few  days  after  we 
had  built  our  house  of  worship,  notice  came  that  the 
Rev.  James  Satterfield  and  Rev.  Elisha  Mc Curdy  were, 
expected  to  preach,  and  organize  a  church  in  our  new 
meeting-house.  They  came,  and  each  brought  his  wife 
with  him.  They  came  on  horseback,  picking  their  way 
through  woods,  in  many  places  only  by  lines  marked  on 
the  trees ;  encountering  swamps,  and  every  other  obsta- 
cle imaginable,  all  without  complaining.  Here  I  will 
relate  a  little  circumstance  about  Mrs.  Mc  Curdy.  In 
passing  through,  they  lodged  for  a  night  with  one  of 
my  neighbors,  whose  cabin  was  very  small  and  had  but 

1  This  house  is  still  standing.     A  drawing  of  it  may  be  seen  in  Miss 
Sanford's  History  of  Erie  County. 


40  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

one  bed  (that  used  by  the  man  and  his  wife),  and  a 
bunk  in  the  corner  for  three  or  four  children.  Mrs. 
McCurdy  saw  that  her  hostess  was  preparing  the  bed 
for  the  strangers,  and  said,  '  I  perceive  that  you  are 
giving  yourself  unnecessary  trouble  for  us.  Is  not  that 
the  bed  which  you  and  your  husband  occupy  ?  '  '  Yes,' 
was  the  reply.  She  said,  '  Then  sleep  in  it ;  all  we  ask 
is  room  in  your  house,  and  I  will  provide  a  bed  for  me 
and  Mr.  McCurdy ;  the  floor  will  do  for  us.'  The 
woman  insisted  that  they  should  take  the  bed.  '  Where 
will  you  sleep  ? '  was  the  next  question.  '  0,  some- 
where here,'  she  replied.  '  You  shall  not  leave  your 
bed  for  me '  said  Mrs.  McCurdy ;  '  my  Master  had  not 
where  to  lay  his  head,  and  we  have  saddle-bags  and 
blankets,  and  a  house  to  shelter  us.'  By  this  time  I 
found  there  was  no  room  for  me,  so  I  went  out  to  a 
stack  where  there  was  some  straw,  and  made  a  nest 
under  the  side  of  it,  where  I  slept  comfortably. 

"  From  thence  they  went  to  Lower  Greenfield,  now 
North  East,  and  organized  a  church,  and  returned  to  our 
log  meeting-house,  and  organized  a  church,  and  called 
it  Middlebrook.  Mr.  McCurdy  preached  the  sermon 
from  these  words,  '  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I 
know  them,  and  they  follow  me.' " 

At  the  second  meeting  of  Presbytery,  another  licenti- 
ate was  taken  under  its  care.  This  was  William  Wood 
(10),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  At  this 
meeting,  John  and  Abraham  Boyd  were  both  ordained 
and  installed,  the  former  June  16,  1802,  as  pastor  of 
Union  and  Slate  Lick ;  the  latter  on  the  following  day, 
as  pastor  of  Bull  Creek  and  Middlesex.  All  these 
churches  are  in  what  is  now  Armstrong  County,  Pa. 

The  ordination  of  John  Boyd  was  the  first  act  of  that 
kind  performed  by  the  Presbytery.     There  is  one  fea- 


HISTORY.  41 

ture  connected  with  these  early  ordinations  that  is  wor- 
thy of  our  attention.  They  were  always  accompanied 
by  "  fasting,"  as  well  as  prayer,  and  the  imposition  of 
the  hands  of  the  Presbytery. 

At  a  pro  re  nata  meeting  of  Presbytery  helfl  at 
Pittsburgh,  September  30,  1802,  Robert  Patterson, 
a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received 
under  its  care,  and  accepted  calls  from  the  churches  of 
Erie,  and  Upper  and  Lower  Greenfield. 

The  next  meeting  was  at  Plaingrove,  November   2, 

1802,  when  William  Wood  was  ordained  and  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Plaingrove  and  Centre,  in 
Mercer  County,  Pa. 

At   the   meeting   held   at  Pocky  Spring,  April    12? 

1803,  Alexander  Cook  (12),  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Pres- 
bytery. At  the  same  time  it  was  resolved  to  solicit 
from  the  General  Assembly  a  donation  of  religious 
books,  to  be  granted  to  such  inhabitants  as  may  not 
be  able  to  supply  themselves.  This  appeal  was  success- 
ful, and  the  Assembly  granted  them  the  following  list 
of  books :  twenty  Bibles,  forty  copies  Doddridge's 
"  Rise  and  Progress,"  thirty  Janeway's  "■  Token,"  eight 
"  Russell's  Sermons,"  eight  Boston's  "  Crook  in  the 
Lot,"  and  eight  Willison's  "  Sacramental  Meditations." 

This  grant  was  followed  by  the  following  order  :  — 
"  That  the  Treasurer  take  charge  of  the  books,  pay  the 
carriage  on  them,  and  distribute  as  follows :  the  Bibles 
given  gratis  to  such  poor  people  as  need  them,  the 
others  to  be  divided  equally  amongst  the  ministers,  and 
by  them  circulated  amongst  such  people  as  need  them, 
until  they  are  called  for  by  Presbytery."  ^ 

Here  we  find  cropping  out  the  germs  of  many  of  the 
1  Mill,  of  Pres.  vol.  i.  p.  15. 


42  PRESBYTERY   OF    ERIE. 

Boards  that  are  now  the  glory  and  crosvn  of  the  Church, 
missions  to  the  Indians,  missions  at  home,  education 
and  publication —  all  are  found  in  the  bud  imd  ready  to 
be  developed. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1803,  Presbytery  received  the 
first  ordained  minister  into  its  bounds.  This  was  Joseph 
Badger  (11),  the  famous  missionary  from  Connecticut. 
His  life  was  one  of  romance,  and  yet  one  of  sternest 
reality.  Born  and  reared  in  poverty,  struggling  always 
with  adversity  and  discouragements,  he  yet  performed 
labor  and  achieved  results,  such  as  few  men  even  of 
his  day  were  able  to  accomplish.  His  famous  journey 
from  Connecticut  to  Ohio,  during  the  depth  of  winter, 
with  his  four-horse  team,  sometimes  on  wheels  and 
sometimes  on  runners,  wuU  long  be  remembered  as  one 
of  the  heroic  labors  that  characterized  the  early  settle- 
ments of  the  West.  His  wonderful  versatility  of  gen- 
ius, admirably  adapted  him  to  the  peculiar  work  in 
which  he  was  engaged.  He  was  at  home  equally  in  his 
cabin,  on  horseback  swimming  the  rivers,  in  the  Indian 
wigwams  preaching  Christ,  and  in  the  depth  of  the 
forest,  sleeping  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  his  head  pillowed 
upon  a  stone  like  Jacob's,  or  hiding  from  beasts  of  prey 
in  the  tree-tops.  He  was  a  remarkable  man,  and  lived 
to  see  fourscore  and  ten  years. 

As  an  instance  of  the  demand  for  supplies,  the  fol- 
lowing minute,  made  in  1803,  is  reproduced  :  "  Fair- 
view,  Westfield,  Poland,  Warren  (O.),  Trumbull,  Beula, 
Pymatuning,  Conneautee,  Outlet  of  Conneaut,  Hilands, 
Saltspring,  Concord,  Gravel  Run,  Middlebrook,  Beaver- 
town,  Franklin,  Titus's,  Hugh  McGirl's  on  Pithole,  An- 
drews' on  Brokenstraw,  Jackson's  on  Conewango,  Rob- 
ert Miles',  Major  Gray's  on  French  Creek,  Mount  Nebo, 
Sugar  Creek,  Smithfield,  and  Canfield  (0.)."      Here  is 


HISTORY.  43 

a  region  of  country  extending  along  Lake  Erie  for 
thirt}'  miles,  thence  south  to  Beaver  one  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  ;  and  from  Warren,  Pa.,  on  the  east,  to 
Warren  and  Canfield,  Ohio,  on  the  west,  and  embracing 
territory  and  points  that  are  still,  after  the  lapse  of  sixty- 
five  years,  considered  as  missionary  ground.  And  at 
this  time  the  whole  force  of  the  Presbytery  consisted 
of  but  twelve  ministers. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1803,  Alexander  Cook  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Slippery  Rock  and  New  Castle,  formerly  called  Lower 
Neshannock.  The  former  church  was  in  what  is  now 
Beaver  County,  and  the  latter  Lawrence  County,  Pa. 
On  the  same  day  Robert  Johnston  (14),  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery.  On  the  31st  of  August  following,  Robert 
Patterson  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregations  of  Upper  and  Lower  Greenfield.  These 
churches  are  now  known,  the  former  as  Middlebrook 
and  the  latter  North  East.  They  are  in  Erie  County, 
Pa.,  and  at  present  in  the  New  School  connection. 

Mr.  Patterson  was  the  first  settled  minister  in  Erie 
County.  He  took  frequent  missionary  tours,  in  the 
region  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie.  A  brief  journal, 
kept  during  one  of  these  tours,  will  convey  some  idea 
of  the  character  of  the  work  :  — 

«  Saturday,  Nov.  5,  1803.  Set  off  from  the  place  of 
my  residence,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Twelve  Mile  Creek, 
below  Presque  Isle.  Rode  thirty  miles  to  the  house  of 
Thomas  Miles,  on  Elk  Creek. 

"  Nov.  6,  Sabbath.  Rode  nine  miles  to  Lexington,  on 
the  Great  Conneaut.  Met  this  morning,  at  different 
places  on  the  road,  one  man  carrying  a  hoe,  shovel,  and 
basket,  going  into  his  potato  field ;  another  carrying  a 


44  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

log  chain  ;  and  a  third  a  cutting  knife.  Besides  these 
met  several  others  on  their  return  from  a  Saturday 
night's  lodging  in  a  tavern,  after  having  attended  at  the 
office  of  a  justice,  whose  custom  it  is  to  transact  law 
business  on  Saturdays,  and  so  late  that  those  who  are 
obliged  to  appear  before  him  are  under  the  necessity, 
some  with  and  a  few  against  their  will,  of  staying  all 
night  in  a  place  where  drunkenness,  profanity,  and 
obscenity  too  frequently  introduce  the  Sabbath. 

"  Preached  at  the  house  of ,  from  John  iii. 

19,  20,  to  eighteen  hearers,  some  not  very  attentive,  and 
no  appearance  of  solemnity.  Rode  in  the  evening 
three  miles  to  the  house  of  C.  Woods  and  Dr.  Hast- 
ings, near  the  Great  Conneaut. 

"  Nov.  7,  Monday.  Preached  from  Joshua  xxiv.  15, 
to  eleven  persons,  attentive  and  serious.  Rode  in  the 
evening  three  or  four  miles  to  John  Saton's,  near  Great 
Conneaut. 

"  Nov.  8,  Tuesday.  Rode  eight  or  nine  miles  to  Sam- 
uel Holliday's  on  the  lake,  near  the  mouth  of  Crooked 
Creek.     Preached  from  Matt.  iii.  9,  to  seven  persons. 

"  Nov.  9,  Wednesday.  Rode  eleven  miles  to  Widow 
McCreary's,  near  Walnut  Creek.  Preached  from  Acts 
iii.  19,  to  twenty  persons.  Received  $1.37.  Rode  in 
the  evening  two  miles  to  Mr.  McCoy's. 

"  Nov.  10,   Thursday.     Rode  twenty  miles  home. 

"  Nov.  12,  Saturday.  Set  out  for  Waterford,  alias 
Le  Boeuf,  on  French  Creek,  distant  twenty-two  miles, 
the  road  solitary,  swampy,  and  in  some  places   covered 

with  deep  snow Towards  evening,  when 

within  five  or  six  miles  of  my  destination  and  near 
Le  Boeuf  Creek,  was  led  astray  by  the  devious  track  of 
two  travellers,  who  had  wandered  themselves,  and  were 
the  cause  of  my  wandering Two  or  three 


HISTORY.  45 

hours  after  night,  came  to  a  watercourse,  seen  by  snow- 
light,  which  was  too  broad  and  miry  to  cross.  Pre- 
pared to  pass  the  night  as  well  as  I  could.  All  in  a 
perspiration,  my  feet  wet  with  walking  and  wading,  for 
the  place  did  not  admit  of  riding,  hungry  and  fatigued, 
I  lay  down  on  the  slushy  snow,  somewhat  afraid  of  wild 
beasts,  but  more  of  perishing  with  the  chilling  cold, 
though  it  did  not  freeze.  About  midnight  the  cold  in 
my  feet  became  excessive.  Rose  and  walked  for  about 
an  hour  on  a  path  which  I  made  in  the  snow  for  the 
purpose.  My  feet  were  somewhat  relieved  from  the  cold. 
Lay  down  again  and  passed  the  night  sometimes  awake 
but  mostly  asleep. 

"  Nov.  13,  Sabbath.  In  the  morning,  after  having 
spent  eleven  or  twelve  hours  in  this  dreary  place,  and 
after  having  suffered  severer  hardships  than  I  ever 
before  endured  in  travelling,  and  feeling  some  sense  of 
my  obligation  to  God  for  His  preserving  mercy,  took 
my  track  backward,  and  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock 
reached  the  house  of  John  Bundle.  Preached  from 
Acts  ii.  38,  to  ten  persons. 

"  Nov.  14,  Monday.     Rode  eighteen  miles  home. 
"  Nov.  16,    Wednesday.     Rode  ten  miles  to  the  house 
of  John  Culver.     Preached  to  six  persons  —  home  in 
the  evening. 

"  Nov.  19,  Saturday.  Rode  seventeen  miles  to 
Adam  Reed's,  on  French  Creek. 

"Nov.  20,  Sabbath.  Rode  nine  miles  to  Matthew 
Gray's,  and  preached  from  Eph.  vi.  4,  to  eighteen  per- 
sons. 

"Nov.  21,  Monday.  Rode  nine  miles  to  Adam 
Reed's.  Lectured  to  twenty  persons  on  the  parable  of 
the  sower,  Matt.  xiii.  Received  one  dollar.  In  the 
evening  rode  seven  miles  to  Thomas  McGahan's. 


46  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

"  Nov.  22,  Tuesday.  Rode  ten  miles  to  AVilson 
Smith's,  in  Waterford,  alias  Le  Bceuf. 

"Nov.  23,  Wednesday.  Preached  in  the  town  at  the 
house  of  Esquire  Vincent,  to  eleven  persons,  from  Acts 
xvii.  18.  Rode  in  the  evening  eight  miles  to  John 
Philips'. 

"  Nov.  24,  Thursday.  Set  out  about  sunrise,  having 
appointed  to  preach  at  the  house  of  P.  Clooke,  distant 
eleven  or  twelve  miles.  The  road,  however,  was  so 
extremely  bad  with  mud,  frost,  and  snow,  and  the  day 
wet,  that  at  twelve  o'clock  I  found  that  I  could  not 
reach  the  place  until  two  or  three  hours  after  the  time 
appointed  ;  and  not  being  well  since  the  night  I  lay  in 
the  snow,  rode  home  from  John  Philips',  seventeen  or 
eighteen  miles. 

"  Nov.  26,  Saturday.  Rode  twenty  miles  to  the 
house  of  James  McMahan,  living  in  a  new  settlement 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  situated  about  Chautauque 
Creek,  that  empties  into  Lake  Erie. 

"  Nov.  27,  Sabbath.  Preached  on  1  Cor.  iv.  at  Wid- 
ow McHenry's,  to  fifteen  grown  persons  and  a  greater 
number  of  children.     Received  one  dollar. 

"  Nov.  28.  Monday.  Rode  twenty  miles  from  James 
McMahan's  house. 

This  journal  gives  a  mere  sample  of  the  every-day 
labors  of  these  early  missionaries.  As  a  general  thing 
the  study  and  preparation  were  confined  to  the  saddle 
and  the  brief  tarrying  at  the  log-cabins  by  the  wayside, 
whilst  the  preaching  was  often  of  daily  occurrence  —  in 
the  forest,  in  the  dwelling-house,  or  wherever  a  few 
people  could  be  assembled. 

On  the  19th  day  of  October,  1803,  Robert  Johnston 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 


HISTOUY.  47 

tions   of   Scrubgrass    and   Bear    Creek,    in    Venango 
County,  Pa. 

This  was  a  most  interesting  field  of  labor.  The  first, 
or  at  least  amongst  the  first  families,  that  came  to  set- 
tle in  Scrubgrass,  was  that  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Coulter,  a 
pious  woman  from  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania. 
She  came  out  in  1797.  The  first  sermon  ever  heard 
in  this  neighborhood,  was  delivered  by  Rev.  William 
Moorhead,  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan  (see 
"  Old  Redstone,"  page  330),  in  the  year  1800,  at  Mrs. 
Coulter's  house,  that  was  about  forty  rods  from  the  site 
of  the  present  church  building.  This  was  the  first  ser- 
mon ever  heard  by  her  son  John,^  then  sixteen  years 
of  age.  He  had  never  before  even  seen  a  minister,  and 
was,  as  he  expressed  it,  more  afraid  of  a  minister  than 
of  an  Indian.  After  this,  was  an  occasional  sermon  by 
Rev.  A.  Boyd,  and  Mr.  Gwynn.  The  first  communion 
was  conducted  by  Mr.  Johnston,  assisted  by  Mr.  Cook, 
in  1803.  It  was  held  in  a  grove.  The  people  assem- 
bled from  a  great  distance.  Thirty  persons  came  from 
Slate  Lick,  thirty  miles  distant.  Snow  fell  on  Sabbath 
night,  and  at  the  services  on  Monday  the  logs  used  as 
seats  were  thickly  covered  with  snow ;  but  the  people 
brushed  it  off,  and  sat  down,  and  listened  gladly  and 
contentedly  to  the  preached  Word. 

At  the  meeting  in  June,  1804,  Nicholas  Pittinger 
(15),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  re- 
ceived under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  At  the  next 
meeting,  October   24,   1804,  he  was  ordained  and  in- 

1  Afterwards  Rev.  John  Coulter,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 
Born  June  26th,  1784;  licensed  by  Presbytery  of  Ohio;  ordained  by 
that  of  Alleghany,  April  21st,  1823;  died  December  6th,  1867.  He  was 
pastor  of  Concord  Church  forty- one  (41)  years.  He  was  the  father  of 
Rev.  J.  R.  Coulter,  now  pastor  of  Scrubgrass. 


48  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

stalled  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  "\Yestfield  and 
Poland.  The  former  of  these  charges  was  in  what  is 
now  Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  and  the  latter,  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  first  licensure  took  place  in 
the  Presbytery.  Hitherto  the  new  accessions  had  been 
from  the  licentiates  of  the  mother  Presbyteries ;  now 
they  began  the  work  of  licensing  candidates  for  them- 
selves. The  first  licentiate  was  Benjamin  Boyd  (17),  a 
brother  of  John  and  Abraham,  who  were  already  mem- 
bers of  Presbytery. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  1804,  the  first  pastoral 
relation  was  dissolved,  and  the  first  members  dismissed 
from  the  Presbytery.  This  was  the  case  of  William 
Wylie.  His  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  for  a  reason 
that  has  since  been  the  prominent  one  in  such  changes 
for  a  half  a  century  and  more  —  failure  to  comply  with 
stipulations,  and  consequent  want  of  support.  Mr.  Wy- 
lie was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

A  singular  instance  of  the  punctilious  observance  of 
forms  occurs  in  the  matter  of  the  church  of  Bull  Creek. 
The  calls  for  the  labors  of  Abraham  Boyd,  on  which 
he  had  been  installed,  were  accidentally  consumed  by 
fire.  Commissioners  appear  in  Presbytery  with  papers 
signed  by  the  trustees  of  the  congregation,  obliging 
themselves  to  pay  the  pastor  the  sum  promised  in  the 
call,  together  with  subscriptions  for  the  amount.  These 
were  accepted  by  the  pastor  instead  of  the  original 
call. 

In  the  matter  of  supplies,  it  was  usual  at  this  time 
to  send  two  ministers  where  the  Lord's  Supper  was  to 
be  celebrated.  The  services  were  usually  protracted, 
and. several  days  occupied  on  the  occasion,  so  that  much 
labor  w^as  imposed. 


HISTORY.  49 

There  is  another  feature  in  the  polity  and  practice  of 
these  early  fathers  that  is  interesting.  It  is  the  great 
frequency  of  occasions  on  which  committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  visit  congregations  and  even  individuals,  to 
reconcile  difficulties  and  remove  complaints.  Were 
difficulties  reported  by  pastor  or  people,  a  committee 
of  Presbytery  was  appointed  to  visit  the  place,  call  the 
people  together,  preach  to  them,  pray  with  them,  secure 
mutual  concessions,  and  as  a  general  thing  restore  har- 
mony and  peace.  The  influence  of  the  ministry  over 
the  people  was  then  very  great.  The  m'inisters  were 
much  like  diocesan  bishops.  Their  advice  was  potent, 
their  word  was  almost  like  law. 

But  the  labor  connected  with  these  things  was  oner- 
ous. The  question  arises,  too,  with  this  large  amount 
of  travel  in  reconciling  belligerent  churches  and  indi- 
viduals, in  supplying  vacancies,  and  in  assisting  breth- 
ren on  communion  occasions,  where  was  the  time  for 
study  and  attention  to  the  minister's  own  field  ?  The 
complaint  must  often  have  been  made,  "  They  made  me 
a  keeper  of  vineyards,  but  mine  own  vineyard  have  I 
not  kept." 

At  this  time  much  attention  was  paid  to  the  Indian 
Mission  at  Sandusky.  Mr.  Badger  was  commissioned 
by  the  '•  Board  of  Trust "  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh 
to  conduct  the  mission.  He  met  with  many  difficul- 
ties, and  was  confronted  by  obstacles.  Whiskey  then,  as 
now,  was  in  the  way  of  the  red  man's  elevation  and 
prosperity.  He  arrived  among  them  in  May,  1806. 
The  plan  proposed  was  to  combine  religious  instruc- 
tion with  the  arts  and  humanizing  influences  of  civil- 
ized life.  Mr.  Badger  was  accompanied  by  three  labor- 
ers, with  oxen  and  farming  implements,  who  were  to 
instruct  the  Indians  in  agriculture. 


50  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Mr.  Badger  was  to  have  a  salary  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  with  any  extra  expenses  that  should  ap- 
pear reasonable.  The  laborers  were  two  white  men  at 
twelve  dollars  per  month,  and  one  colored  man  and  his 
wife,  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  year.  He  was  also 
furnished  a  horse  at  forty-five  dollars,  and  farming 
utensils,  carpenter's  tools,  and  household  furniture,  to 
the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars  and 
eighty-six  cents.-"- 

But  the  discouragements  were  very  great.  The 
missionary  life  was  not  all  rose-colored.  During  Mr. 
Badger's  temporary  absence,  Mr.  Mc Curdy  took  his 
place.  He  writes  as  follows  of  the  Indians :  "  Their 
houses,  when  they  have  any,  are  wretched  huts,  almost 
as  dirty  as  they  can  be,  and  swarming  with  fleas  and 
lice  ;  their  furniture,  a  few  barks,  a  tin  or  brass  kettle, 
a  gun,  pipe,  and  tomahawk.  Such  is  their  ingratitude, 
that  whilst  you  load  them  with  favors  they  will  reproach 
you  to  the  face,  and  construe  your  benevolent  intentions 
and  actions  into  intentional  fraud  or  real  injury.  They 
will  lie  in  the  most  deliberate  manner,  and  to  answer 
any  selfish  purpose."  ^ 

At  this  juncture,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
prepare  a  history  of  the  Presbytery.  They  reported 
progress  the  next  year,  and  were  directed  to  send  their 
manuscript  to  Dr.  Ashbel  Green.  The  subsequent  fate 
of  this  history  is  unknown. 

The  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut  at  this  time 
had  many  missionaries  in  the  Western  Reserve  of 
Ohio,  which  was  settled  mainly  by  families  from  Connec- 
ticut. They  occupied  in  common  with  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie  a   large   extent   of  country.     The  Presbytery 

1  Minutes,  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  1806. 

2  Dr.  Elliott's  Mc  Curdy,  p.  120. 


HISTORY.  '    51 

seemed  disposed  to  cultivate  friendly  relations  with 
them.  A  minute  was  passed  advising  the  ministers  to 
exchange  professional*  services  with  them,  and  the 
people  to  commune  with  them  in  their  churches.  This 
grew  out  of  the  celebrated  "  Plan  of  Union  "  entered 
into  between  the  General  Assembly  and  the  General 
Association  of  Connecticut  in  1801  and  1802. 

In  April,  1805,  John  McPherrin  (16)  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  soon  after  be- 
came pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Concord,  Muddy 
Creek,  and  Harmony,  in  Butler  County,  Pa. 

In  October,  1806,  Presbytery  received  Johnston  Ea- 
ton (20),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  under 
its  care,  and  on  the  following  month  ordained  Benjamin 
Boyd,  jg,nd  installed  him  as  pastor  of  the  congregations 
of  Trumbull,  Beula,  and  Pymatuning.  The  first  two 
of  these  congregations  were  in  Ohio. 

In  April,  1807,  Cyrus  Riggs  (18),  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery,  and  at  the  same  meeting  Robert  Patterson 
was  released  from  the  charge  of  Upper  and  Lower 
Greenfield  in  Erie  County,  Pa.  At  this  meeting  also, 
James  Boyd  (21),  the  fourth  of  the  Boyd  brothers,  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

In  July,  1807,  Robert  Lee  (5)  was  dismissed,  on  the 
ground  of  ill  health,  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rocky 
Spring  and  Amity. 

About  this  time  the  matter  of  a  division  of  Presby- 
tery was  first  agitated.  The  minute  recorded  is  in 
these  words :  "  Presbytery  agreed  to  petition  the  S^iiod 
at  its  next  meeting  to  erect  Rev.  John  McPherrin, 
Thomas  E.  Hughes,  William  Wick,  James  Satter- 
field,  Robert  Lee,  John  Boyd,  Abraham  Boyd,  William 
Wood,  Robert  Johnston,  Alexander  Cook,  and  Nicholas 


52     *  PKESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Pittinger,  into  a  separate  Presbytery,  to  be  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  Harmony,  to  hold  their 
first  meeting  at  Concord." 

Against  this  action  there  was  the  following 

PROTEST. 

*^  We,  the  undersigned  members  of  Erie  Presbytery, 
do  protest  against  the  decision  of  said  Presbytery  in 
favor  of  the  proposed  division,  inasmuch  as  we  believe 
it  will  prove  inimical  to  the  interests  of  religion  in 
many  respects.  "  Samuel  Tait, 

"Joseph  Stockton, 
"Benjamin  Boyd." 

On  the  20th  day  of  October,  1807,  Eeid  Bracken 
(19),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  re- 
ceived under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  same 
day  Cyrus  Piggs  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  congregations  of  Fairfield  and  Mill  Creek,  the 
former  in  Mercer  County,  and  the  latter  in  Venango 
County,  Pa. 

A  note  appended  to  the  minutes,  here  shows  that 
whilst  the  weightier  matters  were  attended  to,  the 
smaller  were  not  neglected :  "  Stated  Clerk  paid  for 
writing  for  two  preceding  years,  three  dollars  and 
twenty-five  cents." 

In  January,  1808,  Mr.  Hughes  reported  that  he  had 
collected  four  hundred  and  forty-four  dollars  and  forty- 
six  cents  for  Greersburgh  Academy.  It  was  resolved, 
that  this  money  should  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
young  men  preparing  for  the  gospel  ministry,  and  be 
under  the  control  of  Presbytery  ;  that  it  be  furnished 
only  to  such  young  men  as  shall  be  recommended  by 
Presbytery,  to   be   by  them   refunded   at   the   rate  of 


KISTCRY.  53 

twenty  dollars  per  annum,  to  commence  as  soon  as 
they  shall  have  been  settled  one  year,  "  in  any  pro- 
fession or  line  of  business." 

Supplies  at  this  time  were  granted  to  "  Sewickly, 
Gravel  Run,  Canfield,  Boardman,  Upper  Salem,  West 
Unity,  New  Salem,  Second  Presbyterian  Congregation, 
Pittsburgh,^  Hilands,  Indiana,  Amity,  Upper  Green- 
field, Middlebrook,  Waterford,  Major  Gray's,  Oil  Creek, 
Broken  straw,  Conewango,  Upper  and  Lower  Sugar 
Creek,  and  Erietown." 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1808,  Reid  Bracken  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Mount  Nebo  and  Plain,  in  Butler  County,  Pa.  Mr. 
Wood  (10)  preached  on  the  occasion,  and  Mr.  Pittin- 
ger  (15)  delivered  the  charges.  This  pastoral  charge 
continued  until  Oct.  7,  1819,  when  he  was  released  from 
Plain,  and  in  1844  from  Mount  Nebo. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1808,  Johnston  Eaton  (20) 
was  ordained,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  Fairview  and  Springfield,  in  Erie  County,  Pa. 
Mr.  Johnston  (14)  preached  on  the  occasion,  and  Jo- 
seph Stockton  (4)  delivered  the  charges.  This  ordina- 
tion took  place  in  a  barn  belonging  to  William  Stur- 
geon. The  relation  continued  with  the  congregation 
of  Fairview  until  the  death  of  the  pastor  in  1847. 

On  the  19th  day  of  October,  in  the  same  year,  James 
Boyd  (21)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregations  of  Newton  and  Warren,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Wick  (2)  preached  on  the  occasion,  and  Mr.  Hughes 
(1)  delivered  the  charges.  This  relation  continued 
until  the  death  of  Mr.  Boyd  in  1813.  He  was  the  last 
of  the  four  brothers  that  was  licensed,  and  the  first 
called  to  his  rest. 

1  Special  request,  by  permission  of  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 


54  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

On  the  day  following  this  ordination,  Presbytery  li- 
censed three  young  men  to  preach  the  gospel.  They 
had  passed  through  all  their  preparatory  exercises  un- 
der the  direction  of  Presbytery,  and  were  commissioned 
together  to  go  into  the  great  field.  Their  names  were, 
Edward  Johnston,  Daniel  Heydon,  and  Joshua  Beer. 
Their  names  will  not  be  found  again  in  this  record, 
as  they  were  transferred  the  next  spring  to  the  roll  of 
the  new  Presbytery  of  Hartford.  Mr.  Johnston  was 
an  older  brother  of  Robert  Johnston  (14).  After  ac- 
cepting calls  from  the  congregations  of  Brookfield  and 
Hubbard,  Ohio,  he  was  called  away  from  his  earthly 
labors,  to  a  higher  sphere  of  service,  on  tUe  very  day 
that  had  been  set  apart  for  his  ordination.  His  death 
took  place  September  20,  1809. 

Daniel  Heydon  was  afterwards  settled  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Miami,  and  still  later  in  those  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati.  .Joshua  Beer  was  settled 
first  at  Springfield,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  and 
subsequently  at  Middle  Sandy  and  Bethesda. 

The  little  church  of  Middlebrook  was  still  keeping 
up  its  fund  for  the  support  of  the  gospel,  and  William 
Dickson,  afterwards  an  elder  at  North  East,  was  sent 
to  Presbytery  to  ask  for  supplies.  The  Presbytery  sent 
to  them  one  of  their  licentiates,  Edward  Johnston,  who 
preached  to  them  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and  on  Sabbath 
night  the  stream  between  him  and  the  man  who  kept 
the  money  arose  to  such  a  height  that  there  was  no  pos- 
sibility of  crossing  it.  So  Mr.  Johnston  went  home  with- 
out his  money.  To  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery 
Mr.  Dickson  went  with  the  money,  but  found  that  in 
the  mean  time  Mr.  Johnston  had  been  called  home  to 
his  rest  and  his  reward.  The  money  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Presbytery,  to  be  disposed  of  as  was  fitting 
and  best. 


HISTORY.  65 

The  project  of  a  new  Presbytery  to  be  erected  from 
a  portion  of  the  territory  of  the  old,  that  had  been  agi- 
tated for  a  year  previous,  now  assumed  a  definite  form. 
The  bounds  were  large,  and  the  churches  multiplying 
in  the  region  extending  into  the  State  of  Ohio.  The 
request  does  not  appear  to  have  proceeded  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  as  such,  but  from  a  Convention, 
called  on  the  minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
"  The  Convention  of  Nev>r  Connecticut."  The  eastern 
portion  of  the  State  of  Ohio  was  known  at  this  time  as 
New  Connecticut,  and  this  Convention  was  probably 
made  up  of  the  ministers  and  elders  residing  in  that 
region.     The  first  minute  of  Synod  is  to  this  effect :  — 

"  A  petition  was  handed  in  by  the  Committee  of  Bills 
and  Overtures,  from  the  Convention  of  New  Connecti- 
cut, praying  that  such  arrangements  might  be  made  in 
the  division  of  Presbyteries,  as  that  they  might  be  em- 
braced within  the  bounds  of  a  Presbytery." 

On  this  petition  a  committee  of  five,  John  McMillan, 
William  Wick,  Thomas  E.  Hughes,  Clement  Valan- 
dingham,  and  Johnston  Eaton,  was  appointed,  which 
reported  the  following  minute :  — 

"  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memo- 
rial from,  the  Ecclesiastical  Convention  of  New  Con- 
necticut, reported,  that  they  were  of  opinion  that  the 
welfare  of  the  church  and  the  interests  of  religion 
may  be  promoted  by  the  erection  of  a  new  Presby- 
tery, bounded  by  a  line  beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
Big  Beaver  Creek,  thence  up  said  creek,  and  up 
Neshannock,  to  the  mouth  of  Little  Branch  ;  thence 
northerly  to  the  mouth  of  Walnut  Creek,  on  Lake 
Erie  ;  thence  along  the  line  of  the  lake  to  the  west 
line  of  New  Connecticut ;  thence  to  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  Connecticut  Reserve ;  thence  east  along  the 


56  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

south  line  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve  to  the  Tusca- 
rawa  branch  of  the  Muskingum  River ;  thence  in  a 
direct  line  to  the  Ohio  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Yellow 
Creek  ;  thence  up  the  Ohio  River  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning :  including  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Thomas  Edgar 
Hughes,  William  Wick,  Joseph  Badger,  James  Satter- 
field,  Benjamin  Boyd,  Nicholas  Pittinger,  Clement  Va- 
landingham,  and  Johnston  Eaton,  —  to  be  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford."  ^ 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  the  new  Presbytery 
ordered  to  meet  at  Hartford,  Ohio,  on  the  second  Tues- 
day of  November,  1808. 

In  process  of  time  the  territory  of  the  new  Presby- 
tery was  divided,  until  the  town  after  which  it  had  been 
originally  named  was  no  longer  within  its  bounds.  In 
the  year  1833,  the  name  was  changed  by  act  of  Synod 
to  Beaver.  From  the  territory  of  this  Presbytery  and 
its  expansion  was  formed,  in  1814,  the  Presbytery  of 
Grand  River ;  and  from  this,  in  1818,  Portage  ;  and 
from  this,  in  1823,  Huron  ;  and  from  this,  in  1830, 
Cleveland.  From  Beaver  Presbytery  was  also  formed, 
in  1838,  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon. 

The  Presbytery  of  Erie  had  now  been  in  existence 
eight  years.  The  general  result  had  been  most  en- 
couracring.  Its  roll  had  increased  from  five  to  nineteen 
members,  with  one  licentiate  and  six  candidates.  Of 
these,  seventeen  were  pastors.  The  churches  had  in- 
creased in  number  and  in  strength.  At  the  last  meet- 
ing of  Synod,  previous  to  the  division,  there  were  re- 
ported the  following  congregations  able  to  support  a 
pastor  :  "  Warren  and  Newton,  Amity  and  West 
Unity,  Gravel  Run  and  Conneaut,  Oil  Creek  and  Sugar 
Creek,  Hartford,  Smithfield,  and  Kinsman." 
1  Minutes,  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  1808. 


HISTORY.  57 

There  were  also  reported,  as  unable  to  support  a  pas- 
tor :  "  Upper  Salem,  New  Salem,  Erietown,  Water- 
ford,  Brokenstraw,  Conewango,  Vienna,  Bristol,  Bea- 
vertown,  Bear  Creek,  Upper  and  Lower  Greenfield, 
Mesopotamia,  Middlefield,  Hilands,  Middlebrook,  Miles' 
Settlement,  Franklin,  Cleveland,  East  Unity,  Sewickly, 
Boardman,  Indiana,  Center,  Austinburgh,  and  Mor- 
gan." 

What  number  of  these  were  regularly  organized 
churches,  and  what  were  merely  preaching  points,  it  is 
impossible  to  determine.  The  early  records  rarely  if 
ever  give  any  account  of  the  date  and  circumstances  of 
the  organization  of  particular  churches.  They  seem  to 
have  been  enrolled  just  as  they  sought  supplies,  and 
became  known  as  places  desiring  the  public  ordinances 
of  religion. 

Much  missionary  labor  had  been  performed  by  the 
Presbytery  through  its  members,  and  some  enterprises 
had  been  undertaken  by  the  Synod  and  General  As- 
sembly within  its  bounds. 

The  first  years  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery  were 
marked  and  rendered  eternally  memorable  by  the  won- 
derful re\dvals  of  religion  that  were  enjoyed.  The 
great  awakening  of  1801  and  1802  commenced  in 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  but  soon  extended  into  what 
became  the  territory  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  The 
first  notice  of  it  is  found  in  the  history  of  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Hughes  (1)  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Beaver  County,  Pa. 
Mr.  Munson,  who  was  a  member  of  that  charge,  tells 
us  ^  many  of  the  particulars  of  it.  It  was  preceded  by 
a  spirit  of  prayerfulness  and  anxiety  for  God's  blessing. 
The  people  met  together  for  prayer.  The  female  mem- 
bers of  the  ccmgregation  met  for  prayer.     Individuals 

1  Letter  to  Dr.  Plumer,  Pres.  Mag.  vii.  463. 


58  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

wrestled  with  agony  and  weeping.  They  laid  hold  on 
the  strength  of  Jehovah.  They  watched  and  waited  for 
the  blessing.  They  brought  the  tithes  into  the  store 
house,  and  God  poured  them  out  a  blessing.  People 
came  together  as  with  one  heart  and  one  mind,  to 
seek  the  Lord.  No  business  was  so  pressing,  no  cares 
so  urgent,  as  to  interfere  with  these  solemn  assemblies. 
Oftentimes  they  could  not  be  persuaded  to  retire  after 
the  benediction  had  been  pronounced,  but  lingered 
around  the  door  of  the  church,  or  the  tent,  as  though 
by  some  unusual  fascination.  In  some  cases,  under 
such  circumstances,  the  services  were  renewed,  and 
continued  all  night.  Great  numbers  were  brought  to 
the  knowledge  of  Christ;  the  hearts  of  God's  people 
were  refreshed,  and  the  churches  greatly  enlarged. 

An  extract  from  the  "  Western  Missionary  Maga- 
zine," describing  the  work  as  witnessed  in  the  Congrega- 
tion of  Cross  Roads,  will  convey  an  idea  of  the  manifes- 
tation of  God's  Spirit  during  these  times.  It  was  during 
the  exercises  of  a  communion  season.  Nine  ministers 
were  present.  Great  feeling  had  been  manifested  dur- 
ing the  services.  The  communicants  had  retired  from 
the  tables  :  "  A  great  many  were  affected,  and  some  had 
to  be  assisted  to  move  out.  Ministers  still  preached 
successively  in  the  hours  throughout  the  day.  Prayers 
and  exhortations  were  continued  all  night  in  the  meet- 
ing-house, except  at  short  intervals,  when  a  speaker's 
voice  could  not  be  heard  for  the  cries  and  groans  of  the 
distressed.  On  Monday  three  ministers  preached  at  dif- 
ferent places,  one  in  the  house,  and  two  out  in  the  en- 
campments. This  was  a  very  solemn  day,  particularly 
in  the  house.  After  public  worship,  when  the  people 
were  preparing  to  remove,  the  scene  was  very  affect- 
ing ;  the  house  was  thronged  full,  and  when  some  of 


HISTORY.  59 

those  without  were  about  to  go  away,  they  found  that 
part  of  their  families  were  in  the  house,  and  some  of 
them  lying  in  distress  unable  to  remove.  This  pre- 
vented a  general  removal ;  and  although  a  number 
went  away,  the  greater  part  remained.  About  the  time 
of  the  departure  of  those  who  went  away,  the  work  be- 
came more  powerful  than  it  had  been  at  any  time  be- 
fore, and  numbers  who  had  prepared  to  go  were  con- 
strained to  stay.  It  was  a  memorable  time  of  the 
display  of  Divine  power  and  grace  through  the  whole 
night.  Many  of  the  young  people  were  remarkably 
exercised,  and  frequently  addressed  others  about  the 
condition  they  were  in,  the  glories  of  the  Saviour, 
the  excellency  and  suitableness  of  the  plan  of  salva- 
tion ;  and  warned  and  invited,  and  pressed  sinners  to 
come  to  Christ ;  all  this  in  a  manner  quite  astonishing 
for  their  years.  Numbers  of  old,  experienced  Chris- 
tians, also,  were  particularly  exercised,  were  much  re- 
freshed and  comforted,  and  affectingly  recommended 
the  Lord  Jesus  and  his  religion  to  those  around  them. 
About  sunrise,  after  a  time  of  solemn,  sweet  exercise, 
the  congregation  was  dismissed,  and  soon  after  dis- 
persed." ^ 

Another  account  describes  the  work  in  a  different 
congregation  :  "  The  administration  of  the  Word  and 
ordinances  was  accompanied  with  an  extraordinary 
effusion  of  divine  influences  on  the  hearts  of  the  hear- 
ers. Some  hundreds  were,  during  the  season,  convinced 
of  their  sin  and  misery ;  and  many  of  them  sunk  down 
and  cried  bitterly  and  incessantly  for  several  hours. 
Some  fell  suddenly  ;  some  lost  their  strength  gradually ; 
some  lay  quiet  and  silent ;  some  were  violently  agi- 
tated ;  and  many  sat  silently  weeping,  who  were  not 
exercised  with  any  bodily  affections."  ^ 

1   Western  Miss.  Mag.  i.  334-35.  2  JUd.  338. 


60  PRESBYTERY    OF    EKIE. 

The  v/ork  extended  throughout  all  the  region  round. 
All  classes,  all  ages,  all  conditions  in  life  were  affected. 
The  hoary-headed  sinner,  who  had  looked  unappalled 
on  scenes  of  human  and  elemental  strife,  and  had  been 
unmoved  by  any  appeals  to  reason  or  to  conscience 
before,  was  bowed  and  subdued.  Eyes  that  seldom 
wept,  poured  out  their  tears  like  rain,  and  hearts  that 
were  like  the  adamant  were  melted  beneath  the  Spirit's 
power.  Lips  that  had  curled  with  scorn  at  the  name 
of  Jesus,  uttered  cries  for  mercy  or  lisped  the  praises 
of  redeeming  love.  Many  who  came  from  mere  cu- 
riosity, or  to  show,  as  they  expressed  it,  that  strong  men 
could  not  be  influenced  by  such  things,  were  crushed  in 
the  dust  and  made  to  cry  for  mercy.  Little  children 
were  the  subjects  of  this  work.  In  one  instance,  some 
children  spent  the  whole  night  in  prayer,  a  young  man, 
without  their  knowledge,  being  stationed  near  to  guard 
them  against  danger. 

From  the  accounts  as  given  above,  it  is  evident  that 
the  work  of  divine  grace  was  accompanied  by  remark- 
able and  unusual  circumstances.  The  body  was  affected 
as  well  as  the  mind.  These  affections  were  different  in 
different  individuals.  Sometimes  the  body  was  affected 
with  feebleness  and  languor,  so  that  the  person  seemed 
to  faint  away.  Sometimes  there  were  apparent  convul- 
sions, or  as  the  people  then  termed  it,  "jerks,"  or  spas- 
modical contortions  of  the  muscles.  In  some,  the  body 
became  quite  powerless  and  without  motion  for  a  length 
of  time  ;  the  breathing  became  very  weak,  animation 
was  almost  suspended,  and  the  pulse  almost  still.  But 
no  pain  was  experienced,  nor  did  any  injurious  conse- 
quences follow  to  the  most  delicate  constitutions.  Yet 
all  this  time  there  was  an  entire  consciousness  of  all 
that  was  passing.     The  mind  was  not  in  a  comatose 


HISTORY.  61 

state,  although  the  body  seemed  often  slumbering.  "  It 
is  no  unusual  thing,"  says  Dr.  McMillan,  "  to  see  per- 
sons so  entirely  deprived  of  bodily  strength  that  they 
will  fall  from  their  seats,  or  off  their  feet,  and  be  as  un- 
able to  help  themselves  as  a  new-born  child."  ^  "  There 
was,"  says  Dr.  Anderson,  "  in  some  cases  gradually, 
and  in  others  instantly,  a  total  loss  of  bodily  strength, 
so  that  they  fell  to  the  ground,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus  — 
and  with  oppression  of  the  heart  and  lungs,  with  sus- 
pension of  breath,  with  sobs  and  loud  cries."  ^ 

This  wondrous  affection  of  the  bodily  powers  was  not 
confined  to  the  place  of  religious  worship  :  it  came  upon 
men  in  the  v;ood,  in  the  fields,  in  the  workshop,  at  home, 
and  in  bed.  It  was  altogether  involuntary,  and  in  spite 
of  every  effort  of  the  will  to  prevent  it.  The  strong 
and  the  weak,  both  in  body  and  mind,  were  equally  its 
subjects.  Sometimes  it  came  upon  those  who  were 
professing  Christians  and  who  had  given  undoubted 
evidences  of  piety.  On  the  other  hand,  many  who  were 
its  subjects,  received  no  spiritual  benefit,  but  went  on 
careless  as  ever. 

These  affections  seem  generally,  though  not  always 
to  have  followed  some  mental  exercises,  or  anxiety  and 
concern  about  the  soul's  salvation.  In  some  instances, 
however,  they  followed  where  there  was  a  determination 
to  avoid  any  outward  exhibition  of  feeling  and  interest  in 
the  great  concern.  Yet  as  the  hearers  lay  apparently 
unconscious  of  all  that  was  passing  around  them,  their 
minds  were  active.  They  could  hear  and  reason,  and 
feel  even  more  intensely  than  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances. 

Rev.  Robert  Johnston  (14),  whilst  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Scrubgrass,  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  relates 
1  Western  31iss.  Mag.  ii.  354.  2   j^id.  464. 


62  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

many  of  the  circumstances  connected  with  this  work 
in  his  own  congregation.  On  a  certain  occasion,  after 
the  benediction  had  been  pronounced  at  the  close  of 
the  Sabbath  evening  service,  a  remarkable  state  of  feel- 
ing presented  itself.  The  circumstances  are  related  in 
his  manuscript  autobiography :  "  While  a  solemn  awe 
was  visible  in  every  face,  five  or  six  appeared  to  be 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  undone  condition,  among 
whom  were  two  of  the  most  unlikely  persons  in  the 
house.  One  of  them  was  the  largest  man  in  the  assem- 
bly, and  full  of  self-importance ;  the  other  a  file-leader 
in  the  devil's  camp,  who  attempted  to  escape  by  flight, 
got  entangled  in  the  bushes,  and  was  forced  to  come 
back  for  a  light  to  find  his  path,  and  who,  the  moment 
he  set  his  foot  inside  the  door,  fell  prostrate  on  the 
floor,  under  a  sense  of  self-condemnation."  As  a  result 
of  this  revival  one  half  of  the  adult  persons  in  the  con- 
gregation were  brought  into  the  church. 

In  a  letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Elliott  of  the  Western  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  Mr.  Johnston  relates  more  minutely 
the  circumstances  connected  with  this  "  Bodily  Exer- 
cise," as  it  was  then  called  :  ^  "  The  effects  of  this  work 
on  the  body  were  truly  wonderful,  and  so  various  that 
no  physical  cause  could  be  assigned  for  their  produc- 
tion. I  have  seen  men  and  women  sitting  in  solemn 
attitude,  pondering  the  solemn  truths  that  were  pre- 
sented, and  in  a  moment  fall  from  their  seats,  or  off 
their  feet,  if  they  happened  to  be  standing,  as  helpless 
as  though  they  had  been  shot,  and  lie  from  ten  or  fif- 
teen or  twenty  minutes,  and  sometimes  as  long  as  half 
an  hour,  as  motionless  as  a  person  in  a  sound  sleep. 
At  other  times,  the  whole  frame  would  be  thrown  into 
a  state  of  agitation  so  violent  as  seemingly  to  endan- 

1  Life  of  Mc  Curdy ^  p.  82. 


HISTORY.  63 

ger  the  safety  of  the  subject ;  and  yet  in  a  moment  this 
agitation  would  cease,  and  the  persons  arise  in  the  pos- 
session of  all  their  bodily  powers,  and  take  their  seats 
composed  and  solemn,  without  the  least  sensation  of 
pain  or  uneasiness.  .  .  .  Another  fact  that  I  ascer- 
tained beyond  doubt,  was,  that  those  who  lay  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  apparently  insensible,  and 
sometimes  without  one  discernible  symptom  of  life,  ex- 
cept the  natural  warmth  and  color  of  the  skin,  could 
hear,  understand,  and  reflect  on  what  they  heard  as  well 
as,  or  better  than,  when  in  possession  of  all  their  nat- 
ural powers.  Nor  was  there  that  kind  of  uniformity  in 
the  occurrence  of  their  different  effects  on  the  body  as 
to  allow  them  to  be  ascribed  to  corresponding  exercises 
of  the  mind.  Some  have  been  agitated  in  body,  under 
pleasing  exercises  of  mind,  and  others  have  lain  mo- 
tionless under  the  anguish  of  a  wounded  spirit.  Some 
were  under  deep  and  pungent  conviction  for  weeks 
before  they  felt  any  effect  on  the  body ;  whilst  some 
passed  through  the  whole  course  of  awakening  and  con- 
viction, and  became  hopefully  pious,  who  never  felt  any 
symptoms  of  bodily  agitation.  Of  the  former  class, 
was  a  very  intelligent  young  man,  now  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  who  told  me  that  he  had  more  pungent  dis- 
tress of  mind  before  than  after  he  became  affected  in 
body.  From  these,  and  many  more  similar  facts  that 
occurred  under  my  own  observation,  I  became  satisfied 
that  no  natural  cause  could  be  assigned,  sufficient  to 
account  for  the  extraordinary  effects  on  the  bodies  of 
a  large  majority  of  the  subjects  of  the  revival." 

"  The  physical  effects  of  the  excitement  on  the  body, 
was  by  no  means  a  desirable  appendage,  in  the  view 
of  the  sensible  part  of  the  community,  but  they  were 
evidently  irresistible,  and  persons  were  as  liable  to  be 


64  PRESBYTEHY    OF    ERIE. 

affected  in  the  very  act  of  resisting,  as  in  any  other 
circumstances  ;  and  many  who  came  to  mock  and  op- 
pose remained  to  pray,  and  returned,  inquiring  what 
they  must  do  to  be  saved." 

This  state  of  feeling  and  action  was  not  encouraged 
by  the  ministers.  It  was  something  they  could  not  un- 
derstand, and  they  took  circumstances  as  they  found 
them.  Mr.  Johnston  states  that  at  the  beginning  of  the 
revival  in  his  congregation,  he  cautioned  his  people 
against  any  outcries,  or  bursts  of  feeling.  This  seemed 
to  have  had  a  good  effect,  for  although  the  work  was 
very  powerful,  yet  this  bodily  exercise  was  no  interrup- 
tion to  the  exercises.  "  I  have  preached,"  says  he,  "  to 
a  crowded  assembly,  when  more  than  one  half  of  the 
people  were  lying  helpless  before  me  during  the  greater 
portion  of  divine  service,  without  the  least  noise  or  dis- 
turbance of  any  kind,  to  divert  or  interrupt  the  atten- 
tion of  any  individual  from  the  word  spoken." 

The  character  of  the  preaching  at  these  times  was 
plain  and  practical.  The  terrors  of  the  law  were  often 
set  forth  with  peculiar  pungency.  Says  Mr.  Munson, 
in  speaking  of  Mr.  Hughes'  preaching  at  Mount  Pleas- 
ant during  one  of  these  revivals :  "  He  took  the  ground 
that  Boston  and  Rutherford  and  Edwards  had  done,  to 
cut  them  off  stroke  by  stroke  from  the  Old  Covenant. 
He  thought  the  case  of  these  anxious  sinners  required 
the  exhibition  of  the  requirements  and  threatenings  of 
the  law.  This  method  was  calculated  to  increase  the 
distress  which  was  already  insupportable."  Afterwards 
his  thoughts  took  a  different  channel.  "  These  dis- 
tressed souls  were  directed  to  the  Cross ;  Christ  was 
held  forth  in  his  ability,  willingness,  and  sufficiency ;  as 
suited  in  all  his  offices  to  relieve  the  distressed  souls 
before  Him  of  their  heavy  burdens.     The  new  course 


HISTORY.  65 

had  the  desired  effect;  a  favorable  change  was  soon 
apparent,  so  that  that  was  the  beginning  of  days  to  a 
goodly  number." 

The  character  of  the  preaching  was  largely  doctrinal. 
Man's  total  depravity  and  corruption  was  largely  dwelt 
upon.  The  awful  penalty  of  the  law  was  set  forth,  at 
times,  with  dreadful  severity  and  terror ;  the  utter  help- 
lessness of  the  sinner  without  the  assistance  of  divine 
grace  was  insisted  upon  ;  and  then  the  blessings  of  the 
Atonement  of  Christ  were  spread  before  the  convicted 
sinner  as  his  only  hope  and  peace. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  history  of  the  Presby- 
tery this  grand  and  wonderful  work  of  God  spread 
over  its  bounds,  and  extended  with  greater  or  less 
power  to  almost  every  pastoral  charge.  It  was  a  bap- 
tism of  the  early  days  of  the  Presbytery  that  was  a 
prophecy  of  great  and  glorious  things  for  days  to  come. 
And  whilst  there  were  peculiarities  connected  with  it 
that  have  not  been  seen  in  modern  times,  yet  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  it  was  a  genuine  work  of  God.  Its 
results  show  this.  Its  subjects  dwelt  in  the  church  as 
sincere  Christians.  They  died  in  peace  and  now  stand 
before  the  Throne. 


CHAPTER   III. 

FROM   THE    FIRST    TO    THE    SECOND    DIVISION    OF    PRES- 
BYTERY. 

1808-1820. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  after  the  erec- 
tion of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  was  at  Concord,  in 
Butler  County,  Pa.,  on  the  18th  day  of  April,  1809. 
The  number  of  its  members  was  much  reduced,  and  its 
territory  greatly  curtailed.  But  there  were  men  of  en- 
ergy and  zeal  and  courage  yet  left,  and  there  was  terri- 
tory left  more  than  sufficient  to  occupy  all  their  time 
and  attention.  The  roll  at  this  time  contained  the 
names  of  Samuel  Tait,  settled  at  Cool  Spring  and  Mer- 
cer ;  Joseph  Stockton,  settled  at  Meadville  and  Little 
Sugar  Creek,  or  Cochranton ;  Robert  Lee,  who  was 
without  a  pastoral  charge  ;  John  Boyd,  settled  at  Union 
and  vSlate  Lick,  Armstrong  County,  Pa. ;  Abraham  Boyd, 
settled  at  Bull  Creek  and  Middlesex ;  William  Wood, 
settled  at  Plaingrove,  Mercer  County,  Pa. ;  Alexander 
Cook,  settled  at  Slippery  Rock  and  New  Castle  ;  Robert 
Patterson,  who  was  without  charge,  and  not  residing 
within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery ;  Robert  Johnston, 
settled  at  Scrubgrass,  in  Venango  County,  Pa. ;  Cyrus 
Riggs,  settled  at  Fairfield  and  Mill  Creek,  in  Mercer 
and  Venango  Counties  ;  Reid  Bracken,  settled  at  Mount 
Nebo   and  Plain,  in  Butler   County,  Pa.,   and  John 


HISTORY.  67 

McPherrin,  settled  in  Concord  and  Harmony,  also  in 
Butler  County,  Pa. 

At  the  following  meeting  of  Synod  they  reported  the 
following  vacant  congregations,  as  "  able  to  support  a 
pastor  :  West  Unity  and  Amity,  Gravel  Run  and  Wa- 
terford.  Vacant  congregations,  not  able  to  support  a 
pastor :  Erie,  Upper  and  Lower  Greenfield,  Oil  Creek, 
Brokenstraw,  Conewango,  Middlebrook,  Franklin,  and 
Unity." 

The  territory  with  which  they  had  parted  was  about 
as  great  as  that  which  they  retained.  But  its  bounda- 
ries were  now  more  definitely  determined.  Heretofore 
the  western  boundary  had  been  rather  mythical  than 
real,  extending  as  far  as  civilization  had  advanced,  and 
consequently  rather  migratory  than  permanent.  It  was 
deprived  also  of  its  Indian  missionary  ground,  although, 
as  will  be  seen,  its  interest  in  Indian  missions  did  not 
abate  in  the  least. 

At  this  time  the  accommodations  for  religious  wor- 
ship began  to  improve.  The  "  tent,"  as  the  little  cov- 
ered platform  on  which  the  ministers  stood  was  called, 
was  used  only  on  sacramental  occasions,  or  in  times  of 
great  religious  interest.  Comfortable  log-houses  with 
glazed  windows  had  been  erected  in  almost  all  the  con- 
gregations. In  some  of  the  congregations,  sacramental 
services  were  held  in  barns,  and  with  great  comfort  and 
satisfaction.  There  was  at  this  time  an  occasional 
frame  barn  throughout  the  settlements.  Before  harvest 
these  could  be  comfortably  occupied.  The  barn  w^as 
carefully  swept  out.  Seats  of  rough  wood  were  arranged 
in  the  threshing-floor  and  in  the  haymows,  and  some- 
times in  the  stables,  with  a  long  tier  out  in  front  of  the 
open  doors.  A  platform  in  the  further  end  of  the 
threshing-floor  served  for  a  pulpit. 


68  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

But  it  is  doubtful  whether  this  worship  in  barns  and 
mills  was  any  improvement  on  that  of  the  forest.  In 
summer,  with  pleasant  weather,  and  a  delightful  site, 
under  the  great  trees,  and  the  sweet  breath  of  God  all 
around  in  its  purity,  the  worship  was  most  delightful 
and  inspiriting. 

"  The  groves  were  God's  first  temples.    Ere  man  learned 
To  hew  the  shaft  and  lay  the  architrave, 
And  spread  the  roof  above  them,  —  ere  he  framed 
The  lofty  vault,  to  gather  and  roll  back 
The  sound  of  anthems,  —  in  the  darkling  wood, 
Amidst  the  cool  and  silence,  he  knelt  down 
And  offered  to  the  Mightiest,  solemn  thanks 
And  supplication." 

There  was  a  freedom  too  about  those  forest  sanctua- 
ries that  was  most  inviting  to  the  earlier  settlers.  It 
suited  their  ideas  of  propriety  to  come  together  on 
common  ground,  where  every  one  was  alike  at  home, 
and  where  the  accommodations  were  unlimited,  save  by 
the  extent  of  the  forest.  Many  scenes  of  melting  inter- 
est were  witnessed  at  such  times  and  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

A  single  picture  of  this  forest  worship  will  convey 
some  idea  of  the  early  worship  of  the  fathers.  It  is  in 
the  month  of  June.  It  has  been  announced  far  and 
near  that  a  stranger  from  the  old  settlements  is  to  preach 
on  the  following  Sabbath  in  the  woods  near  the  Big 
Spring.  A  great  congregation  has  assembled ;  and  it 
is  a  motley  assemblage.  Every  variety  of  costume  and 
habit  and  expression  of  countenance  is  there.  One  is 
habited  in  a  suit  brought  from  his  early  home,  but 
since  unused,  save  on  special  occasions  like  the  pres- 
ent. The  texture  is  still  good,  but  the  changing  fashions 
have  left  it  far  in  the  background.  Another,  perhaps, 
has  a  single  garment  of  this  kind,  whilst  the  remainder 


HISTORY.  69 

of  his  costume  is  manufactured  in  the  wilderness. 
Still  another  has  a  costume  that  is  nondescript  in  its 
character.  His  hunting-shirt  is  of  deerskin,  whilst  his 
lower  extremities  are  cased  in  garments  of  the  same 
material,  shrunk  by  the  weather,  until  they  completely 
adapt  themselves  to  the  form  they  were  designed  to 
protect. 

The  wives  and  daughters  of  the  settlers  are  in  as 
good  trirn  in  their  outward  adornment  as  circumstances 
would  permit;  where  a  bonnet  was  wanting  a  cotton 
handkerchief  supplies  the  deficiency;  where  shoes 
were  wanting,  they  manifest  their  sense  of  propriety 
by  coming  without  these  appendages  of  modern  refine- 
ment. 

It  is  an  imposing  place,  too.  The  tall  trees  have 
stood  there  for  centuries,  witnesses  of  the  power  and 
wisdom  of  the  God  of  creation  ;  and  now  in  the  midst 
of  their  deep  solitude,  the  love  of  the  God  of  Redemp- 
tion is  to  be  set  forth. 

The  preacher  appears  and  takes  his  stand  under  the 
shadow  of  a  venerable  elm.  He  is  a  mere  youth,  and 
bears  a  cast  of  care.  He  is  thin  and  sallow,  almost 
cadaverous,  yet  with  an  eye  full  of  the  fire  of  thought. 
As  he  proceeds  with  his  subject,  his  form  becomes 
erect,  and  his  ideas  flow  forth  in  a  torrent  of  burning 
eloquence.  He  sways  that  untutored  multitude  as  the 
passing  breeze  sways  the  unreaped  grain.  Many  a 
brown  cheek  is  moist  with  tears ;  many  a  heart  hard  as 
the  adamant,  is  melted  beneath  the  burning  power  of 
truth. 

When  he  commenced,  the  congregation  were  seated 
upon  fallen  logs,  leaning  against  the  trees,  or  carelessly 
lounging  upon  the  ground.  But  as  he  proceeds  and 
warms  with  the  subject,  and  the   truth  begins  to  fall 


70  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Upon  their  consciences,  they  gradually  draw  nearer 
until  all  are  standing  around  the  speaker.  Every  eye 
is  riveted  upon  him ;  they  hang  upon  his  lips.  Upon 
those  upturned  countenances  are  plainly  visible  the 
deep  emotions  that  are  struggling  within.  "  Is  not  my 
word  like  as  a  fire  ?  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  like  a  hammer 
that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces  ?  " 

In  some  of  the  churches  at  that  day,  in  the  summer 
time,  it  was  not  unusual  for  some  thoughtful  man  to 
carry  a  brand  of  fire  from  his  home,  and  apply  it  to  a 
dry  stump  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  church.  To  this 
fire  the  men  would  resort  for  the  purpose  of  a  quiet 
smoke.  Occasionally,  even  during  the  sermon,  a  staid 
deacon  would  quietly  withdraw,  light  his  pipe,  smoke 
to  his  satisfaction,  and  return,  perhaps  even  before  the 
minister  had  taken  up  a  new  head  of  discourse. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1809,  Mr.  Cook  (12)  was  re- 
leased from  the  charge  of  vSlippery  Rock  and  New 
Castle,  and  on  the  6th  of  March  following  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  and  soon  after  went 
on  his  missionary  tour  to  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 

April  17,  1810,  John  Boyd  was  released  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Slate  Lick,  Armstrong  County,  Pa., 
when  he  began  to  labor  as  a  stated  supply  at  Amity 
and  West  Unity.  On  the  27th  of  June,  1810,  Mr. 
Stockton  was  released  from  the  charge  of  Meadville 
and  Little  Sugar  Creek,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Redstone. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1810,  Mr.  John  Boyd  (8),  hav- 
ing relinquished  his  position  as  stated  supply  at  Amity 
and  West  Unity,  on  account  of  ill  health,  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lancaster,  now  Zanesville. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1810,  John  Matthews  (22),  a 
licentiate   of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was   received 


niSTORY.  71 

under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  17th  of  Octo- 
ber following,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  AYaterford  and  Gravel  Run. 

Discouraging  circumstances  had  arisen  in  Scrubgrass, 
as  they  frequently  do  after  great  revivals,  and  Mr. 
Johnston  was  constrained  to  sunder  his  connection  with 
a  people  he  loved.  His  field  there  had  been,  as  it  has 
been  since,  a  remarkable  one.  Old  John  Lowrie,  his 
principal  elder,  had  been  a  host  in  himself,  in  the 
church.  His  family  have  been  remarkable  since  in  the 
influence  they  have  exerted  on  Presbyterianism.  Wal- 
ter Lowrie,  his  son,  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  but 
has  since,  as  the  Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions,  been,  perhaps,  of  more  service  to 
the  church  than  though  he  had  been  in  the  ministry. 
Three  sons  of  Walter  Lowrie,  John  C,  Walter  M.,  and 
Reuben  P.,  have  been  foreign  missionaries.  Another 
son  of  John  Lowrie,  Matthew  B.,  was  long  a  valuable 
elder  in  the  church.  A  son  of  Matthew  B.,  Hon.  Wal- 
ter H.  Lowrie,  is  also  an  elder,  and  another  son,  the  late 
Rev.  John  M.  Lowrie,  D.  D.,  was  a  prominent  man  in  the 
church.  Judge  Lowrie  has  also  a  son  in  the  ministry. 
A  daughter  and  two  grandchildren  of  John  Lowrie  are 
missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  the  Northwest,  and  a 
grandson,  Rev.  W.  L.  Lyons,  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Iowa. 

On  the  2d  day  of  January,  1811,  Mr.  Johnston  (14) 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of 
Scrubgrass,  and  calls  placed  in  his  hands  from  the  con- 
gregations of  Meadville,  Sugar  Creek  (Cochranton), 
and  Conneaut  Lake  (Evansburgh),  with  an  injunction  to 
these  congregations.  "  To  augment  their  stipulated  salr 


72  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

ary  for  the  whole  of  Mr.  Johnston's  time,  to  at  least 
four  hundred  dollars  for  the  whole  of  his  time." 

At  this  meeting  "  The  Presbytery,  taking  into  view 
the  gloomy  and  shattered  state  of  the  churches  under 
their  care,  appointed  the  first  Thursday  of  February 
next,  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation, 
and  prayer  to  Almighty  God,  that  He  would  remove  the 
clouds  of  separation  between  Him  and  us." 

April  9, 1812,  Mr.  Riggs  (18)  was  dismissed  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Fairfield,  and 
commenced  his  labors,  soon  after,  in  the  congregations 
of  Scrubgrass  and  West  Unity.  In  this  latter  charge, 
he  found  many  of  the  prejudices  of  the  times  in  his 
way.  But  he  was  a  quiet,  unpretending  man,  and  yet 
had  his  own  ideas  of  propriety  ;  and  in  addition  to  this, 
had  the  faculty  of  carrying  out  his  own  plans,  in  spite  of 
the  prejudices  of  the  times  and  the  unreasonableness 
of  many  of  his  people.  His  strategy  was  simple  and 
yet  effective.  It  was  to  approach  new  subjects  gradu- 
ally, and  undermine  foolish  prejudices  by  degrees,  until 
his  object  was  accomplished.  His  people  were  not 
probably  more  unenlightened  than  others  at  that  day, 
and  their  operations  may  be  taken  as  a  specimen  of  the 
spirit  of  the  times. 

One  of  their  peculiar  notions  was  that  fire  was  not 
necessary  in  the  church  edifice,  even  in  the  coldest 
weather.  When  he  went  to  Scrubgrass,  the  people 
were  in  the  habit  of  coming  to  church  from  distances  of 
from  one  to  seven  miles.  They  would  then  hitch  their 
horses,  and  sit  in  the  cold  church  during  the  two  hours 
of  divine  service,  and  return  home,  without  seeing  fire. 
When  they  erected  a  new  house  of  worship,  Mr.  Riggs 
proposed  putting  in  it  two  ten-plate  stoves,  in  order 
that  the  people  might  worship  with  comfort.     This  prop- 


HISTORY.  73 

position  met  with  a  most  strenuous  opposition.  They 
argued  that  their  fathers  had  never  had  fire  in  the 
church,  and  they  were  no  better  than  their  fathers. 
Moreover  they  said,  the  house  would  be  so  warm  they 
could  not  occupy  it.  The  spirit  of  improvement  pre- 
vailed, however,  and  the  stoves  were  placed  in  the  new 
church ;  yet  it  was  observed  that  an  old  father,  who 
could  not  be  convinced  against  his  will,  gave  up  a  pew 
he  had  occupied  near  the  pulpit,  and  took  one  near  the 
door,  with  a  window  at  the  back  of  it,  which  he  regu- 
larly opened  a  little  lest  he  should  be  suffocated. 

Churches  were  not  generally  heated  in  any  way,  in 
these  times,  even  during  the  long  winters  that  charac- 
terized the  country.  Occasionally  an  old  foot-stove  that 
had  done  service  in  New  England  was  found  in  some 
household,  and  was  filled  with  coals  and  embers  and 
carried  to  church.  Yet  even  this  was  considered  effemi- 
nate, and  none  but  the  aged  would  condescend  to  use 
them.  Nor  were  the  services  abridged  on  account  of  the 
cold.  There  was  the  regular  routine  —  two  services, 
and  the  intervening  recess,  during  which  the  people  eat 
their  biscuits,  and  shook  hands  with  the  minister.  Nor 
were  the  people  warmly  clad  in  those  days.  Overcoats 
were  rare,  and  overshoes  almost  wholly  unknown.  Dur- 
ing the  service  there  was  often  an  audible  sound  of  shuf- 
fling feet,  that  was  produced  in  the  attempt  to  quicken 
the  circulation  and  so  restore  warmth  to  the  system. 
But  this  was  never  excepted  to  on  the  part  of  the 
minister.     It  was  justified  by  circumstances. 

About  this  time  an  improvement  was  introduced  in 
the  Church  of  Fairview,  a  portion  of  Mr.  Eaton's  charge, 
The  little  log  church,  which  overlooked  Lake  Erie,  was 
exposed  to  the  bleak  winds  that  sometimes  raged  with 
great  fury ;  and  the  idea  was  suggested  that  as  the 


74  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

people  had  fire'  in  their  cabins  at  home,  a  little  would 
improve  the  temperature  of  the  meeting-house.  But 
there  was  neither  fire-place  nor  chimney.  So  a  large 
iron  kettle,  that  had  been  used  in  boiling  sugar,  was  set 
in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  half  filled  with  charcoal,  and 
the  mass  ignited.  This  moderated  the  cold  somewhat ; 
yet  the  ladies  would  sometimes  approach  the  kettle  so 
near  as  to  inhale  the  carbonic  acid  gas  that  arose  from 
the  coal,  faint  away,  and  be  carried  out  into  '  the  open 
air  to  revive.  Subsequently  a  large  ten-plate  stove, 
that  had  been  brought  from  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
by  some  enterprizing  settler,  was  obtained,  and  added 
greatly  to  the  comfort  and  satisfaction  of  the  worship- 
pers. 

In  the  spring  of  1812,  Rev.  John  McPherrin  (16)  was 
invited  to  preach  in  Erie  County,  and  remained  some 
six  months,  preaching  in  North  East  and  Middlebrook. 
The  journal  of  William  Dickson,  already  quoted,  men- 
tions an  incident  of  interest. 

"In  the  spring  of  1812,  Rev.  John  McPherrin  ac- 
cepted a  call  from  North  East  and  Middlebrook  con- 
gregations, and  came  and  preached  six  months.  As 
war  was  declared  that  year,  and  we  were  on  the  frontier, 
he  declined  staying  with  us,  and  returned  to  his  former 
charge  in  Butler  County.  While  he  was  with  us,  we 
had  an  election  for  elders,  and  he  was  not  pleased  with 
the  choice,  as  politics  had  something  to  do  with  it. 
Two  men  were  elected  who  were  never  known  to  pray 
in  their  families,  and  the  time  was  appointed  for  their 
ordination  ;  but  they  had  first  to  pass  an  examination 
that  was  like  a  refiner's  fire,  and  he  declared  from 
the  pulpit  that  they  w^ere  not  qualified  for  members  of 
any  church,  and  he  would  never  ordain  such  men  ;  if 
we  must  have  elders,  we  must  elect  praying  men.     One 


HISTORY.  75 

of  these  men  repented,  and  became  an  elder  ;  the  other 
like  Judas,  went  to  his  own  place." 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  on  the  9th  of  April 
1812,  the  attention  of  Presbytery  was  called  to  mission- 
ary ground,  near  Pittsburgh,  now  the  site  of  Alleghany 
City.  The  minute  is  in  these  words  :  "  An  indigent  and 
needy  neighborhood,  situated  on  the  Alleghany,  oppo- 
site to  Pittsburgh,  having  applied  to  Rev.  Messrs. 
Herron  and  Hunt  of  the  Presbytery  of  Eedstone,  for 
supplies  of  preaching  from  them  and  the  Rev.  Robert 
Patterson,  of  Erie,  as  frequently  as  convenient ;  it  was 
deemed  proper  by  them  to  lay  the  case  for  consideration 
before  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  On  motion,  Resolved^ 
That  they,  with  discretion,  attend  to  this  application." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  resolution  was  offered,  but 
afterwards  negatived,  looking  to  the  continuance  of  the 
practice  of  publishing  the  bans  of  matrimony  in  the  con- 
gregation on  the  Sabbath.  This  practice  had  been  of 
long  standing.  The  custom  had  been  to  set  forth  the 
intentions  of  matrimony  in  something  like  the  following 
words :  "  There  is  a  purpose  of  marriage  between  John 
Smith  and  Hannah  Brown  of  this  congregation  ;  whereof 
this  is  the  first  publication."  The  next  Sabbath  it  would 
be  the  second  publication,  and  the  following  the  third ; 
when  it  would  be  proper  to  celebrate  the  marriage. 
The  publication  was  read  by  the  clerk,  as  he  was  called, 
or  the  leader  of  the  singing,  as  he  stood  in  front  of  the 
pulpit,  and  was  done  with  as  much  gravity  and  unction 
and  sing-song  tone  as  he  would  line  out  the  psalm  pre- 
paratory to  singing.  Sometimes  there  would  be  a  dis- 
position to  smile  on  the  part  of  the  younger  portion  of 
the  congregation,  at  the  first  publication  of  the'  bans, 
but  usually  it  was  received  with  gravity  and  decorum 
such  as  were  fitting  to  the  worship  of  the  Sabbath. 


76'  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

At  the  date  referred  to,  the  Presbytery  did  not  feel 
like  insisting  on  the  observance  of  the  old  rule.  Against 
this  laxity,  Mr.  McPherrin  enters  his  solemn  protest, 
giving  four  reasons  as  grounds  of  his  protest.  The 
protest  is  spread  upon  the  minutes.^ 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod,  the  year  previous,  the 
same  question  had  come  up,  when  it  was  decided,  first, 
"  That  the  Synod  do  not  approve  of  their  members 
celebrating  marriage,  without  publishing  the  purpose 
of  marriage,  or  license."  And  secondly,  that  it  is  not 
a  breach  of  the  Sabbath  to  publish  a  purpose  of  mar- 
riage on  that  sacred  day.^ 

At  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  1811,  Robert  McGar- 
raugh  (23),  with  his  congregations.  New  Rehoboth  and 
Licking,  was  detached  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
and  annexed  to  that  of  Erie.  The  territory  so  annexed 
was  determined  by  the  boundary  line  between  the  two 
Presbyteries,  thus  defined  by  Synod :  "  Ordered,  that  the 
Redbank  Creek  from  the  mouth  up  the  southern  branch 
to  the  boundary  line  of  the  Synod,  shall  hereafter  be 
the  line  of  division  between  the  Presbyteries  of  Erie 
and  Redstone."  ^ 

Mr.  McGarraugh  was  a  laborious  minister,  and  suf- 
fered a  full  share  of  the  privations  and  difficulties  in- 
cident to  the  new  settlements.  He  was  a  plain,  humble 
man,  intent  only  on  the  great  work  of  preaching  the 
gospel  and  leading  souls  to  Christ.  His  field  once  em- 
braced the  whole  of  what  is  now  Clarion  Presbytery. 
A  few  sermons  had  perhaps  been  preached  in  that  re- 
gion before  his  arrival,  yet  he  was  the  first  minister  that 
came  permanently  into  the  field.  He  did  not  content 
himself  with  preaching  in  his  own  particular  charge, 
but  extended  his  labors  in  all  directions,  wherever  there 
1  Vol.  ii.  10.  2  Min.  of  Synod,  1811.  3  ibid. 


HISTORY.  77 

were  people  to  hear,  or  needy  souls  to  be  sought  out. 
During  one  year  of  his  labors,  he  visited  every  family, 
without  regard  to  denomination,  in  the  whole  of  what  is 
now  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion.  Without  being  a  fluent 
preacher,  he  was  an  earnest  worker,  and  probably  no 
person  in  all  his  region  of  country  doubted  either  his 
sincerity  or  his  piety.  He  was  the  only  Presbyterian 
minister  in  all  this  region  up  to  the  year  1824,  when 
John  Core  came  into  the  bounds. 

Mr.  McGarraugh  was  pastor  of  the  churches  of  New 
Rehoboth  and  Licking  from  1807  to  1822,  when  he 
resigned  his  charge,  but  continued  to  labor  in  the  con- 
gregations of  Concord  and  Calensburgh,  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1839.  A  detailed  record  of  his 
labors,  and  the  struggles  of  himself  and  family  during 
the  early  years  of  his  ministry,  would  seem  more  like 
romance  than  reality.  Yet  his  experience,  probably,  did 
not  differ  much  from  that  of  our  early  ministers  gener- 
ally during  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  of  the  history 
of  the  Presbytery. 

In  June,  1812,  Mr.  Wood  (10)  became  pastor  for  the 
whole  of  his  time  over  the  congregation  of  Plain  grove. 
At  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  October  of  this  year,  the 
congregation  of  Hilands  was  detached  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  and  annexed  to  that  of  Redstone.  At  the 
same  time  a  remarkable  action  was  had  by  the  Synod, 
defining  the  boundaries  of  this  congregation  ;  "  That 
the  first  point  be  at  the  Alleghany  River,  opposite  the 
mouth  of  Puckety  Creek  ;  thence  westerly  until  it  inter- 
sects the  Franklin  road  twelve  miles  from  Pittsburgh  ; 
thence  southwest,  until  it  strikes  the  Ohio  River,  eight 
miles  from  Pittsburgh  ;  and  thence  up  the  river  to  the 
town  of  Pittsburgh."  ^ 

1  Minutes  of  Synod,  1812. 


78  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  Synod,  Johnston  Eaton  (20), 
with  his  pastoral  charge,  Fairview  and  Springfield,  on 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  was  detached  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hartford,  and  annexed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie.  This  was  an  extensive  charge.  It  extended 
from  the  Ohio  State  line  to  that  of  New  York.  Some- 
times he  supplied  at  Erie,  and  sometimes  at  Lower 
Greenfield  or  North  East.  He  had  begun  the  work  in 
1805.  In  1807  he  moved  with  all  his  worldly  effects 
from  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  on  horseback.  There  was 
no  road  for  wagons,  and  all  the  fixtures  for  housekeep- 
ing and  domestic  comfort  must  be  "  packed,"  as  it  was 
then  termed,  or  lashed  on  the  backs  of  horses,  and 
these  horses  led  single  file,  one  being  tied  behind 
another.  A  portion  of  the  furniture  was  manufactured 
by  the  minister  himself;  a  small  table  was  constructed 
out  of  a  walnut  log,  by  laboriously  hewing  down  split 
puncheons,  until  they  were  of  the  proper  thickness. 
For  the  children's  comfort  the  minister  made  shoes 
with  his  own  hand,  and  his  wife  braided  hats  from  the 
bark  of  the  leatherwood  that  grew  plentifully  in  the 
forest.  They  manufactured  coffee  from  rye ;  and  good 
Mr.  Blair  furnished  all  the  sugar  that  was  wanted,  made 
from  the  trees  that  grew  on  his  broad  acres.  Some- 
times the  bread  was  made  from  "sick  wheat," ^  and 
caused  a  terrible  agitation  of  the  stomach,  but  venison 
and  bear-meat  and  fish  were  plenty,  and  the  little  fam- 
ily lived  in  comparative  comfort.  During  the  absence 
of  the  minister  on  his  preaching  tours,  the  log-cabin 
parsonage  was  lonely  and  often  visited  by  Indians,  but 
a  neighbor  was  usually  at  hand  for  company  and  pro- 
tection. Twice  during  these  years,  Mr.  Eaton  was  a 
Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  at  Philadelphia, 

1  A  peculiar  disease  that  affected  the  wheat  in  that  day. 


HISTORY.  79 

and  on  both  occasions  performed  the  journey  to  and 
from  on  horseback.  The  road  led  by  the  way  of  Pitts- 
burgh, and  required  about  two  weeks  to  complete  the 
journey  each  way. 

April  7,  1813,  Mr.  McPherrin  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  Butler.  On  the  same  day,  Mr. 
Lee  (5)  was  dismissed  to  the*  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 
In  June,  1813,  an  arrangement  was  made  by  which  Mr. 
Tait  (3)  became  pastor  once  more  at  Salem,  the  people 
of  Cool  Spring  agreeing  to  worship  at  Mercer.  Salem 
had  been  a  portion  of  Mr.  Tait's  original  charge  in  1801. 
Joseph  Stockton  (4)  had  preached  the  first  sermon  to 
this  congregation  in  1799  ;  it  was  on  the  banks  of 
the  Shenango,  about  half  a  mile  from  where  Green- 
ville now  stands.  He  was  a  candidate  at  the  time  Mr. 
Tait  was  elected  pastor.  In  this  congregation  a  sin- 
gular question  arose  in  regard  to  the  ruling  eldership. 
Amongst  the  elders  elected  was  William  Beatty,  who 
was  a  bachelor.  The  mothers  in  Israel  doubted  the 
propriety  of  ordaining  such  a  man.  The  question  was 
warmly  debated  at  several  "  frolics  "  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  conclusion  arrived  at  was,  that  an  elder 
"  should  be  the  husband  of  one  wife,  and  rule  his  house- 
hold well."  The  difficulty  was  mentioned  to  Mr.  Tait, 
who  at  first  humored  the  joke,  as  he  considered  it,  but 
finding  the  matter  growing  serious,  it  required  quite  an 
efibrt  on  his  part  to  remove  their  doubts  ;  and  they  only 
yielded  their  opinion  in  deference  to  that  of  their 
minister.  Mr.  Beatty  was  ordained  and  installed  into 
office,  and  thenceforward  scrupulously  devoted  one  tenth 
of  his  income  to  religious  purposes. 

In  the  year  1813,  during  the  war  with  Great  Britain, 
Johnston  Eaton  was  appointed  chaplain  by  the  govern- 
ment.    His  people  were  generally  in  the  army,  as  was 


80  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

the  case  throughout  the  Presbytery,  and  his  feelings 
and  sense  of  duty  induced  him  to  desire  to  go  with 
them.  Joseph  Badger  and  Benjamin  Boyd,  former 
members  of  the  Presbytery,  were  also  in  this  service 
under  the  government. 

During  a  portion  of  this  war,  the  congregations  along 
the  Lake  Shore  were  in"  great  fear  and  often  terror. 
After  Hull's  surrender,  it  was  reported  that  a  British 
fleet  was  coming  down  the  Lake,  and  a  body  of  British 
and  Indians  by  land  at  the  same  time.  On  one  occasion 
the  land  forces  were  reported  as  coming,  when  heroic 
John  Sturgeon  commenced  casting  bullets,  declaring  he 
would  "  Make  them  stand  off,  or  he  would  send  the 
lead  at  them."  The  British  and  Indians  did  not  come. 
On  another  occasion  the  fleet  was  reported  landing, 
when  an  old  gentleman,  with  commendable  zeal,  but 
doubtful  judgment,  set  off  on  foot  at  full  speed  for  the 
shore,  taking  off"  his  old  hat  and  filling  it  with  stones  as 
he  ran,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  sinking  the  fleet. 
The  fleet  proved  to  be  a  single  boat  with  a  few  fisher- 
men in  it,  from  the  neighborhood. 

During  the  war  there  was  a  circumstance  that  should 
be  recorded  to  illustrate  the  general  religious  influence 
that  prevailed  in  at  least  some  portions  of  the  Presby- 
tery. In  Mercer  County  a  company  was  raised  to  go 
to  Erie,  for  the  defense  of  the  border.  This  company 
was  under  the  command  of  Captain  Joseph  Junkin.^ 
During  the  entire  campaign,  family  worship  was  kept 
up  daily,  in  every  tent  but  two,  by  their  respective  in- 
mates, and  in  these  two,  it  was  kept  up  by  the  officers 
volunteering  to  attend  to  the  duty  for  those  who  occu- 
pied them. 

In  October,  1813,  Ira  Condit  (24),  a  licentiate  of  the 
1  Brother  of  Rev.  Drs.  George  and  David  X.  Junkin. 


HISTORY.  81 

Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery,  and  on  the  8th  of  November  following,  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Fairfield  and  Big  Sugar  Creek. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1813,  John  Redick  (26) 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  On  the  same  day 
it  was  urged  upon  all  the  churches,  notwithstanding 
their  poverty,  to  contribute  to  the  fund  for  educating 
young  men  for  the  gospel  ministry. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1814,  Mr.  Riggs  was  installed 
at  Scrubgrass.  At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1814,  there  was  a  movement  that  reveals  the 
incipient  dawn  of  a  great  moral  enterprise.  It  con- 
tains the  prophecy  of  the  temperance  reformation.  Its 
voice  now  seems  faint  and  feeble ;  yet  it  was  the  bud 
wrapped  up  in  its  cerements,  put  of  which  grew  the 
great  work  in  which  Presbytery,  in  later  days,  has  taken 
such  an  active  part.  The  minute  and  resolution  are 
couched  in  the  following  words :  — 

"  The  Presbytery,  taking  into  view  the  pernicious 
effects  of  ardent  spirits  on  the  peace  and  good  morals 
of  society,  and  the  necessity  of  testifying,  by  example  as 
well  as  precept,  against  the  common  and  excessive  use 
of  them  at  public  meetings  and  social  visits :  Resolved, 
To  make  no  use  of  them  at  their  various  ecclesiastical 
meetings."  ^ 

Mr.  Eaton  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  at 
Springfield,  and  Mr.  Matthews  from  Gravel  Run,  in 
November  of  this  year.  In  June,  1815,  Amos  Chase 
(25)  was  received  from  the  South  Consociation  of 
Litchfield.  He  at  once  engaged  in  missionary  work, 
and  was  for  many  years  an  untiring  laborer  in  what  has 
since  become  the  great  oil-field  of  Pennsylvania,  trav- 

1  Min.  ii.  41. 


82  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

elling  from  neighborhood  to  neighborhood,  and  from 
house  to  house,  bearing  the  great  message.  At  this 
meeting  Mr.  Eaton  was  permitted  to  supply  the 
churches  of  Erie  and  North  East.  At  this  time  the 
monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  missions,  was  recom- 
mended to  be  observed  on  the  first  Monday  evening  of 
each  month. 

At  the  same  time  the  question  of  "  moral  societies  " 
was  discussed,  and  the  following  minute  passed  :  — 

"  Presbytery  being  informed  by  their  commissioner 
to  the  General  Assembly  that  moral  associations  have 
been  formed  in  many  parts  of  our  church,  and  have 
been  successful  in  checking  immorality,  and  that  the 
assembly  at  their  late  sessions  have  earnestly  recom- 
mended the  formation  of  such  societies,  deem  it  their 
duty  to  make  known  to  the  churches  under  their  care 
the  wish  of  the  Assembly  on  this  subject,  confidently 
believing  that  they  will  cheerfully  give  their  united  aid 
in  endeavoring  to  suppress  Sabbath-breaking,  drunken- 
ness, profane  swearing,  gambling,  and  all  immoralities, 
within  their  bounds."  ^ 

At  this  meeting  a  complaint  was  brought  against  one 
of  the  pastors,  for  having  violated  a  fast  day,  by  going 
on  that  day  to  purchase  whiskey.  The  investigation 
showed  that  the  alleged  offense  was  committed  on  a 
Thursday  that  had  been  set  apart  previous  to  the  Lord's 
Supper.  The  offense,  as  urged,  consisted  solely  in  per- 
forming a  secular  work  on  a  fast  day,  and  not  in  the 
quality  of  the  work  itself  The  Presbytery  unanimously 
agreed  that  the  delinquent  pastor  should  be  admonished 
by  the  moderator. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  1815,  John  Redick  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
1  Min.  ii.  51. 


HISTORY.  83 

Slate  Lick  and  Union.  April  2,  1816,  Timothy  Alden 
(27)  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey.  Af 
the  same  meeting  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draw 
up  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  in  behalf  of  "  Common 
English  Schools." 

June  26,  1816,  the  congregation  of  Erie  requested 
one  third  of  the  ministerial  labors  of  Mr.  Eaton.  The 
request  was  granted. 

In  September,  1816,  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted :  — 

"Whereas,  vice  and  immorality  abound  to  the  de- 
struction of  the  souls  of  men,  and  of  the  peace  and  hap- 
piness of  the  church  ;  therefore,  the  Presbytery  resolve 
to  bear  a  more  public,  decided,  and  unanimous  testi- 
mony against  vice  in  general,  and  particularly  against 
the  sins  of  drunkenness,  Sabbath-breaking,  swearing, 
gambling,  dancing,  etc.,  than  formerly,  and  enjoin  it 
on  the  ministers  and  sessions  under  their  care  to  pay 
special  attention  to  this  resolution."  ^ 

The  pastoral  relation  between  William  Wood  and  the 
congregation  of  Plaingrove  was  dissolved  October  7, 
1816,  and  on  the  1st  of  April,  1817,  he  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1817,  the  pastoral  relation 
between  Mr.  Matthews  and  the  congregation  of  Water- 
ford  was  dissolved.  On  the  same  day  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion existing  between  Mr.  Johnston  and  the  congrega- 
tions of  Meadville,  Little  Sugar  Creek  (Cochranton), 
and  Conneaut  Lake  (Evansburg),  was  also  dissolved. 
The  congregation  of  Meadville  then  requested  that  Mr. 
Alden  might  be  appointed  as  a  stated  supply ;  but  as 
there  were  arrearages  still  due  Mr.  Johnston,  from  a 
part  of  the  charge,  Presbytery  declined  the  request. 
1  Min.  ii.  65. 


84  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

This  was  the  source  of  serious  difficulty  in  these  con- 
•^regations.  They  felt  that  they  were  treated  unjustly, 
and  the  result  was  that  the  church  of  Little  Sugar  Creek 
eventually  withdrew  from  the  Presbytery,  and  connected 
with  the  Presbytery  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1817,  John  Munson  (28),  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  was  received  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, a  man  of  uncouth  exterior,  but  of  a  genuine  ear- 
nest nature,  with  a  heart  to  work,  and  a  physical  consti- 
tution that  peculiarly  adapted  him  to  the  wants  of  the 
times.  For  a  time  he  labored  as  a  missionary.  He 
would  take  his  horse  and  set  out  on  a  tour  of  two 
hundred  miles,  seeking  his  way  at  times  through  cow- 
paths,  over  lofty  hills,  swimming  rivers,  fording  streams, 
sleeping  on  the  floors  of  log-cabins,  eating  corn-bread 
and  bear  meat,  and  all  this  that  he  might  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  scattered  settlements  that  were  on  the 
verge  of  the  great  forest.  For  a  time  the  Upper  Alle- 
ghany, and  from  that  to  Lake  Erie,  was  his  favorite  re- 
sort. He  would  find  the  people,  gather  them  together 
on  Sabbath  and  on  week-days,  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  them.  Sometimes  his  congresfations  were  numbered 
by  hundreds,  and  sometimes  by  half  dozens.  It  mat- 
tered not ;  one  soul  was  precious,  and  a  small  company 
had  the  same  promise  of  the  Master's  presence  as  a 
large  one.  His  early  habits  of  labor  and  toil  in  assist- 
ing in  the  support  of  the  home  family,  and  his  custom 
of  self-dependence  in  the  great  struggle  with  the  world, 
from  boyhood  up,  were  of  great  use  to  him  in  the  labors 
of  the  Lord's  vineyard.  And  these  early  missionary 
labors  fitted  him  for  entering  upon  pastoral  work,  upon 
which  he  entered  a  year  or  two  later. 

The  question   of  psalmody  is  an  interesting  one  in 


HISTORY.  85 

this  connection.  The  minutes  of  Presbytery  throw  no 
light  upon  it.  They  are  silent  in  regard  to  the  ancient 
practice  of  the  churches,  and  the  gradual  transition  from 
the  old  version  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  to  the  imita- 
tions of  the  Psalms  and  the  Hymns  of  Dr.  Watts,  and 
thence  to  the  more  improved  hymnology  of  the  modern 
church.  That  these  changes  took  place  without  any 
jarring  or  discord  or  contention,  we  can  hardly  suppose. 
Human  nature  is  by  far  too  stern  and  rugged  in  its 
constitution  to  undergo  such  changes  without  conflict, 
even  though  they  be  connected  with  the  worship  of 
God  and  the  spiritual  enjoyment  of  the  heart.  And 
so  the  traditions  that  have  come  down  to  us  from  the 
fathers  and  mothers  that  have  fallen  asleep,  and  the 
recollections  of  fathers  and  mothers  who  yet  linger 
amongst  us,  assure  us  of  the  troubles  and  contests  that 
were  connected  with  this  subject. 

The  records  of  the  old  Synod  give  us  an  idea  of  the 
feelings  of  the  fathers  in  this  matter.  As  far  back  as 
1765,  we  find  this  action  passed  by  the  Synod :  — 

"  After  some  consideration  of  the  query  concerning 
the  use  of  Dr.  Watts'  imitation  of  the  Psalms,  the  Sy- 
nod judged  it  best,  in  present  circumstances,  only  to 
declare  that  they  look  on  the  inspired  Psalms  of  Scrip- 
ture to  be  proper  matter  to  be  sung  in  divine  worship, 
according  to  their  original  design  and  the  practice  of 
Christian  churches,  yet  will  not  forbid  those  to  use  the 
imitation  of  them  whose  judgment  and  inclination  leads 
them  to  do  so." 

Twenty-two  years  later,  1787,  the  liberal  feeling  had 
greatly  increased.  "  The  Synod  did  allow,  and  hereby 
do  allow,  that  Dr.  Watts'  imitation  of  David's  Psalms, 
as  revised  by  Mr.  Barlow,  be  sung  in  the  churches  and 
families  under  their  care."     At  the  same  meeting  they 


86  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

advised  care  and  caution  in  regard  to  the  troubles  that 
this  subject  had  gathered  around  it.  Charity  and  for- 
bearance and  mutual  conciliation,  were  earnestly  en- 
joined upon  the  people  and  upon  the  ministers,  so  that 
no  undue  burdens  might  be  laid  upon  either. 

In  regard  to  the  practice  of  the  early  fathers  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  we  have  sufficient  light  to  induce 
us  to  believe  that  from  the  very  first  they  were  in  favor 
of  a  New  Testament  psalmody.  But  they  were  in  ad- 
vance of  the  people  generally.  As  a  general  thing, 
they  used  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns,  in  family  worship 
at  home  and  in  social  worship,  where  it  would  not 
greatly  offend  the  prejudices  of  the  people.  But  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  and  in  public  worship,  the  old  version  of 
Rouse  was  generally  used.  There  were  exceptions, 
however,  in  regard  to  some  of  the  old  ministers.  It  was 
long  before  they  could  give  up  the  idea  of  an  "  In- 
spired Psalmody,"  in  public  worship.  It  is  related  of 
good  old  Samuel  Porter,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
that  being  at  a  prayer  meeting,  where  the  people  were 
singing  with  great  animation  — 

"  Let  them  refuse  to  sing 

Who  never  knew  our  God; 
But  children  of  the  Heavenl}'-  King 
May  speak  their  joys  abroad;  " 

he  was  greatly  troubled,  and  distressed  even,  for  he  had 
not  felt  at  liberty  to  sing  words  of  human  composure  ; 
yet  after  hearing  these  lines,  he  joined  in,  saying  to 
himself,  as  he  afterwards  remarked,  — "  If  my  con- 
science won't  let  me  sing,  I'll  wring  its  neck." 

But  there  were  almost  intolerable  prejudices  in  the 
minds  of  many  of  the  people  against  the  use  of  any- 
thing but  Rouse.  Some  who  did  not  appear  to  have 
much  conscience  in  regard  to  other  things  of  greater 


HISTORY.  87 

importance,  were  here  immovable.  They  could  not 
sing  words  of  "  human  composition  "  in  the  Lord's  wor- 
ship. They  were  wedded  to  the  rough,  jagged  lines  of 
Rouse,  and  could  as  readily  be  diverted  from  them  as 
from  the  Holy  Book  itself  And  the  Synod  acted  rea- 
sonably and  well  in  the  matter,  to  urge  charity,  tender- 
ness, and  forbearance  toward  the  people.  These  old 
psalms  had  been  hallowed  in  their  minds  as  being  con- 
nected with  the  blessed  memories  of  early  years,  as 
associated  with  the  family  altar,  as  having  been  sung  by 
lips  voiceless  now  upon  earth,  but  tuneful  on  the  heights 
of  Mount  Zion. 

But  it  is  evident  that  the  early  fathers  generally  were 
anxious  for  a  fuller  liberty  in  the  praises  of  the  Lord. 
They  felt  limited  and  constrained,  and  longed  for  a 
service  of  song  that  would  be  adapted  to  all  times  and 
circumstances.  From  introducinsr  the  use  of  Watts  at 
home  and  in  pastoral  visitations,  they  gradually  began 
to  sing  an  occasional  psalm  or  hymn  from  Watts  in 
the  social  prayer-meeting,  just  as  the  feelings  and 
prejudices  of  the  people  rendered  it  proper  or  expe- 
dient. This  could  very  readily  be  done,  as  the  use  of 
books  was  not  then  a  necessity  in  worship.  The  psalm 
or  hymn  was  invariably  "  lined  out "  by  the  clerk. 
Sometimes  one  line  at  a  time,  and  sometimes  two,  ac- 
cording to  custom.  One  book  in  the  congregation,  then, 
would  suffice  for  all.  After  the  people  became  accus- 
tomed to  the  sound  of  Watts,  and  their  prejudices 
began  to  soften,  the  pastor  would  occasionally  introduce 
a  hymn  during  the  service  of  the  Sabbath ;  and  thus  the 
transition  was  passed,  until  in  the  course  of  years  the 
use  of  hymns  became  the  rule  instead  of  the  exception. 

But  this  change  w^as  not  accomplished  without  a 
struggle.      Men's   feelings,   passions,   prejudices    were 


88  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

sometimes  all  in  the  way.  Sometimes  the  sound  of  a 
hymn,  or  even  the  sight  of  a  hymn-book,  would  over- 
come all  devotional  feeling  and  all  desire  for  worship, 
and  induce  a  speedy  departure  from  the  house  of  God. 

There  was  a  large  admixture  of  Scotch-Irish  element 
in  all  the  churches  there,  and  although  eminently  con- 
servative and  Presbyterian,  yet  they  remembered  the 
green  banks  of  Ireland,  and  the  gay  heather  of  Scot- 
land, and  albeit  they  had  sung  paraphrases  as  well  as 
psalms  in  the  fatherland,  yet  they  still  looked  upon 
these  as  having  a  kind  of  inspiration.  Hymns  had  a 
doubtful  look  and  a  doubtful  rhythm  about  them,  and 
they  could  not  at  once  fall  in  with  them.  Besides,  they 
inherited  something  of  the  spirit  of  the  Covenanters  of 
old,  and  resolved  to  "  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints."  And  so,  sometimes, 
rather  than  give  up  what  they  considered  the  right  of 
conscience,  they  preferred  to  leave  the  old  church  of 
their  fathers,  and  find  a  home  where  old  jDsalms  were 
the  rule. 

When  Mr.  Riggs  took  charge  of  Scrubgrass  and 
Unity  churches,  they  used  Rouse's  version  of  the  psalms 
exclusively  in  divine  service.  This  continued  for  some 
time,  when  the  pastor,  having  scruples  against  this  ex- 
clusive use,  began  to  labor  in  private  to  prepare  the 
people  for  a  change.  He  used  the  version  of  Watts, 
together  with  his  hymns,  in  social  meetings,  and  occa- 
sionally sung  one  before  divine  service.  When  he 
thought  the  people  were  ripe  for  the  change,  a  vote  was 
taken  at  Unity  Church,  when  it  was  directed  that  one 
of  Rouse's  psalms. should  be  sung  at  the  opening  of  the 
morning  service,  and  Watts'  the  remainder  of  the  time. 
This  vote  was  passed  with  but  three  or  four  dissenting 
voices.      Accordingly,  on   the   next   Sabbath,    one    of 


HISTORY.  89 

Rouse's  psalms  was  sung ;  and  at  the  second  singing  one 
of  Watts'  psalms  was  announced,  and  the  pastor  com- 
menced reading  it,  when  a  certain  tall,  broad-shouldered, 
brusque-looking  man,  with  a  rich  Milesian  accent  to  his 
voice,  having  looked  in  vain  for  the  psalm  in  his  own 
thin  volume,  and  thinking  perhaps  that  the  sjoeech  of 
the  psalm  bewrayed  it,  arose  from  his  seat,  stepped  into 
the  aisle,  and  addressing  the  minister,  cried  out :  "  Quut 
that ; "  and  receiving  no  attention  from  any  source, 
proceeded  up  the  aisle  toward  the  pulpit,  crying,  "  If 
you  dunno  quut  that,  I'll  go  up  and  pull  ye  doon  by 
the  neck." 

One  of  the  elders  here  interposed  between  the  bel- 
ligerent psalm-singer  and  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Riggs  spoke 
a  few  mild,  soft  words  of  rebuke,  with  a  reference  to 
the  protecting  power  of  the  civil  law ;  when  the  irate 
Milesian  turned  suddenly  about,  and  striding  rapidly 
out  of  the  house  returned  no  more.  Henceforward 
the  congregation  had  no  further  trouble  on  the  score  of 
psalmody.  This  was  the  last  roar  of  the  storm  that 
seemed  so  threatening. 

In  other  congregations  there  were  difficulties  of  a 
similar  kind.  Some  of  the  good  fathers  who  had  been 
nurtured  upon  the  psalms,  were  disposed  to  consider 
anything  else  in  the  hour  of  worship  as  an  innovation 
not  to  be  tolerated  for  a  moment.  One  such  zealous 
worshipper  was  mortified  and  grieved  at  suddenly  drop- 
ping a  pocket  Bible  on  the  floor,  under  the  belief  that 
it  was  a  "  Methodissy  Hymn-Book,"  as  he  had  named 
Watts'  Hymns.  But  these  days  passed  away.  Many, 
no  doubt,  left  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  found  a 
home  in  other  branches  of  the  church  on  account  of 
psalmody,  yet  peace  and  harmony  on  this  question  at 
length  prevailed. 


90  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

The  matter  of  music  in  churches  was  another  source 
of  trouble.  Formerly  the  "  Seven  Sacred  Tunes,"  as 
some  facetious  individuals  expressed  it,  were  used  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  others.  They  were  the  grand  old 
airs  of  Scotland,  that  had  resounded  over  brake  and 
burn  in  times  of  peace,  and  struggled  faintly  through 
crevice  and  cranny  of  dens  and  caves  where  God  was 
worshipped  in  days  of  persecution.  Nothing  like  light- 
ness or  undue  rapidity  was  tolerated  in  church  music. 
At  first,  nothing  like  a  repetition  of  the  words  was  sup- 
posed to  be  proper  or  decorous  or  lawful ;  yet  in  the 
course  of  years,  the  mellowing  influence  of  time  was 
felt  in  softening  prejudices  and  in  reconciling  the  people 
to  new  things.  In  the  lapse  of  time,  the  style  of  the 
music  used  in  church  became  greatly  changed.  It  be- 
came even  more  complicated  and  involved  than  that 
used  at  the  present  day.  Fugue  tunes  became  very 
popular.  A  glance  at  the  music  books  that  were  in 
use  forty  years  ago,  shows  us  that  this  style  of  music 
was  very  common.  And  yet  with  all  their  defects  in 
harmony  and  arrangement,  there  was  a  richness  and 
exuberance  about  that  music  that  renders  many  of 
the  tunes  very  attractive  even  at  the  present  day.  The 
music  then  was  by  the  congregation.  A  clerk  "  raised 
the  tune,"  as  they  called  it,  and  the  people  followed 
after,  until  the  house  and  the  grove  and  the  hill-side 
were  flooded  with  the  strains  of  melody  that  gushed 
forth  in  praise  to  God. 

On  the  2oth  of  June,  1817,  the  pastoral  relation  ex- 
isting between  Mr.  Abraham  Boyd  and  the  congrega- 
tion of  Middlesex  was  dissolved,  on  the  ground  of  the 
inadequate  support  of  the  pastor.  Measures  were 
taken  to  organize  a  Missionary  Society,  agreeably  to 
the  recommendation  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  the 


HISTORY.  91 

matter  of  contributions  to  this  purpose  urged  upon  the 
churches.  A  day  was  set  apart  at  the  close  of  the  June 
meeting,  1817,  by  the  following  action :  "  Presbytery, 
taking  into  view  the  prevalence  of  vice  and  immorality 
and  the  declining  state  of  vital  piety,  together  with  the 
threatening  aspect  of  Divine  Providence  with  respect 
to  the  church  in  their  bounds,  appointed  the  first  Mon- 
day of  September  next  to  be  observed  as  a  day  of 
humiliation,  fasting,  and  prayer." 

Mr.  Alden  had  never  been  settled  as  pastor  in  the 
bounds  of  Presbytery.  His  work  was  connected  with 
Alleghany  College  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  of  which  he  was 
President.  This  college  was  then  under  Presbyterian 
influence.  But  Mr.  Alden  had  a  love  for  missionary 
labor,  and  often  took  tours  into  the  Indian  Reservation 
lying  along  the  Alleghany  River,  and  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery.  Ha  had  a  great  regard  for  the  In- 
dians, and  loved  to  visit  them,  not  only  for  the  opportu- 
nity of  preaching  the  gospel  to  them,  but  of  studying 
their  character  in  their  native  habits  and  customs. 
These  Indians  were  remains  of  the  once  powerful  and 
ferocious  Six  Nations;  but  were  now  known  as  the 
Senecas  and  Munsees.  They  led  an  indolent  and  inac- 
tive life,  and  were,  from  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
exposed  to  all  the  vices,  and  very  few  of  the  virtues,  of 
the  white  man. 

For  years  Mr.  Alden  was  in  the  habit  of  paying  them 
a  visit  during  the  summer,  as  he  could  find  time  from 
his  college  engagements.  At  first,  these  excursions  were 
undertaken  on  his  own  accoimt  and  at  his  own  charges. 
Afterwards  they  had  the  sanction  of  the  Presbytery. 
At  one  time,  on  representations  being  made  to  the 
proper  authorities,  he  received  an  appointment  from  the 
Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians. 


92  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

These  labors  were  not  regular  or  protracted,  but  occu- 
pied what  time  could  be  spared  from  the  duties  of  the 
college. 

In  these  labors  he  came  in  contact  with  the  famous 
Seneca  chief  Cornplanter,  whose  head-quarters  were 
on  the  Alleghany  River,  in  Warren  County,  Pa.  In  a 
letter  dated  November,  1816,  he  gives  an  account  of  an 
interview  with  this  famous  chief:  — 

"  Last  year,  at  a  council  of  the  tribe,  Cornplanter 
made  an  eloquent  speech  of  two  hours'  length,  in 
which  he  gave  a  lucid  history  of  his  life.  He  stated 
that  his  father  was  a  white  man  from  Ireland,  and  that 
his  mother  was  a  Seneca  ;  that  he  had  always  been  at- 
tached to  the  tribe ;  that  he  had  been  zealous  in  their 
way  of  worship ;  but  that  now  he  was  convinced  they 
were  all  wrong ;  that  he  was  determined  to  devote  him- 
self to  the  way  in  which  the  ministers  walk  —  meaning 
the  Christian  religion.  '  I  know,'  said  he,  '  that  we  are 
wrong ;  I  know  that  they  are  right.  Their  way  of  wor- 
shipping the  Great  Spirit  is  good.  I  see  it ;  I  feel  it ;  I 
enjoy  it' 

"  In  this  happy  and  persuasive  manner  did  he,  with 
his  imperfect  knowledge,  plead  the  cause  of  Christ.  In 
one  part  of  his  animated  address,  while  speaking  of  his 
former  views  and  habits,  his  language  seemed  to  be 
like  that  of  Paul,  giving  an  account  of  his  Pharisaic 
zeal  in  opjDosition  to  Christianity.  In  another  part,  it 
was  like  that  of  Joshua,  stating  his  pious  resolutions  to 
the  tribes  of  Israel  at  Shechem."  ^ 

This  old  chieftain,  the  last  of  a  line  of  heroic  braves, 
lived  to  the  patriarchal  age  of  one  hundred  and  five 
years,  and  lies  buried  by  the  side  of  the  Alleghany, 
1  Sprague's  Annals, 


HISTORY.  93 

whose  waters  he  had  been  familiar  with  from  his  child- 
hood. 

On  the  loth  of  February,  1818,  Mr.  Matthews  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Missouri.  The  mission- 
ary spirit  was  largely  developed  in  his  nature  ;  and  as 
he  looked  out  upon  the  inviting  fields  of  the  great 
West,  he  longed  to  explore  them  and  do  what  he  could 
in  their  evangelization. 

In  these  days  frequent  inquiries  were  instituted  as  to 
the  matter  of  collections  for  "  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary." This  was,  of  course,  the  seminary  at  Princeton, 
for  no  other  was  then  established.  Although  these 
early  fathers  had  not  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  such  an 
institution  themselves,  they  felt  its  value,  and  desired 
that  those  who  were  preparing  for  the  sacred  office 
might  have  every  facility  in  their  preparation  for  the 
work. 

It  was  also  strictly  enjoined  on  the  churches  to  be 
careful  in  examining  the  credentials  of  travelling  min- 
isters, as  they  were  called,  passing  through  the  Presby- 
tery or  tarrying  within  its  bounds.  A  standing  com- 
mittee of  Presbytery  was  appointed,  to  whom  all  strange 
ministers  were  referred  for  examination  ;  and  until  ap- 
proved by  them,  it  was  considered  disorderly  for  vacant 
churches  to  countenance  them.  This  was  rendered 
necessary  from  the  fact  that  numerous  adventurers 
from  the  East  were  at  that  time  drifting  westward,  and 
seeking  that  standing  amongst  strangers  they  could  not 
obtain  at  home. 

On  the  28th  day  of  February,  1818,  John  Munson 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  con- 
gregations of  Plaingrove  and  Center.  In  these  exer- 
cises Mr.  Chase  preached  the  sermon,  and  Mr.  McPher- 
rin  delivered  the  charges.    On  the  same  day  Mr.  John- 


94  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

ston  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  He 
had  been  a  member  of  Presbytery  fifteen  years,  and 
one  of  the  most  successful  pastors  within  its  bounds. 
At  this  meeting  the  question  of  the  relation  of  persons 
baptized  in  infancy  was  discussed,  when  "  It  was  moved 
and  seconded,  that  those  ministers  and  sessions  who 
exercise  discipline  upon  baptized  members,  and  censure 
such  as  are  guilty  of  any  immorality,  be  considered  as 
justifiable."  This  action  was  passed  as  the  voice  of  the 
Presbytery. 

The  matter  of  educating  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try still  pressed  earnestly  upon  the  Presbytery.  New 
measures  were  adopted  and  new  efforts  put  forth.  The 
matter  was  brought  individually  before  each  congrega- 
tion, and  in  order  that  vacant  churches  might  have  the 
same  opportunity  of  contributing  as  those  with  pastors, 
a  layman  was  sought  out  and  appointed  in  each  congre- 
gation within  the  bounds  of  Presbytery.  There  was  at 
this  time  no  general  education  board  for  the  whole 
church.  The  Presbytery  conducted  the  matter  of  edu- 
cation in  its  own  way.  Funds  were  collected  through- 
out the  congregations  and  paid  into  the  treasury  of 
Presbytery,  and  by  it  supplied  to  the  students  under  its 
care,  as  circumstances  seemed  to  justify.  These  stu- 
dents generally  commenced  their  studies  with  the  pas- 
tors. Sometimes  their  entire  classical  studies  were 
pursued  in  this  way ;  and  in  all  cases  at  the  first,  they 
pursued  their  theological  course  either  with  Dr.  Mc- 
Millan or  some  pastor  at  home.  In  this  way  the  funds 
of  Presbytery,  though  small,  were  made  to  go  a  great 
way  in  preparing  young  men  for  the  field.  The  rule 
then,  as  in  more  modern  times,  was  that  no  prom- 
ising young  man,  desirous  of  entering  the  ministry, 
should  be  discouraged  for  want  of  funds.     The  pastors 


HISTORY.  95 

did  a  great  work  in  this  way.  They  generally  lived  on 
farms,  and  were  always  ready  to  receive  young  men 
into  their  families  as  students,  furnishing  them  books, 
instruction,  and  a  quiet  home  free  of  expense.  In  these 
days  there  was  scarcely  a  minister  in  the  Presbytery 
who  was  not  instrumental  in  introducing  one  or  more 
young  men  into  the  ministry,  not  only  in  the  way  of 
advice  and  encouragement,  but  in  actually  undertaking 
their  instruction  and  maintenance,  either  in  whole  or  in 
part.  In  this  way  every  pastor's  cabin  in  the  early 
days  was  made  a  miniature  college  or  theological 
seminary.  Sometimes  the  pastor  could  say,  as  Dr.  Mc- 
Millan did,  in  regard  to  the  accommodations:  "  Some- 
times we  had  no  bread  for  weeks  together ;  but  we  had 
plenty  of  pumpkins  and  potatoes  and  all  the  necessa- 
ries of  life ;  and  as  for  luxuries,  we  were  not  much  con- 
cerned about  them."  ^  But  what  they  had  was  freely 
shared  with  the  student.  And  many  a  time  did  the 
pastor's  wife  deny  herself  some  great  convenience,  in 
order  that  the  student  might  not  want  for  hose,  and  that 
his  wardrobe  in  other  respects  might  be  maintained  in 
a  presentable  appearance.  And  in  order  to  assist  in 
the  same  matter,  the  mothers  in  Israel  formed  what 
they  called  "  Cent  Societies,"  the  object  of  which  was 
to  collect  funds  mainly  through  their  own  labor,  as  well 
as  to  provide  clothing,  socks,  collars,  handkerchiefs,  and 
other  articles  pertaining  to  wearing  apparel,  for  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  the  young  candidates  for 
the  ministry.  There  is  a  long  record  of  self-denying 
labors  and  secret  sacrifices,  made  by  these  early  moth- 
ers in  behalf  of  God's  church  and  ministry,  that  will 
be  found  written  only  in  God's  Book  of  Remembrance, 
and  concerning  which  it  has  already  been  said,  "  Inas- 

1  Sprague's  Annals,  vol.  iii.  p.  352. 


96  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

much  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  my  brethren, 
ye  did  it  unto  me." 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1819,  Phineas  Camp  (29)  was 
received  from  the  Presbytery  of  North  River.  He  was 
from  the  State  of  New  York,  and  the  first  minister 
received  into  the  Presbytery  who  had  been  a  student 
at  a  theological  seminary.  He  had  been  through  a 
full  course  at  Princeton,  and  was  a  most  zeftlous  and 
fervid  minister.  To  a  warm,  impassioned  nature,  he 
added  a  zeal  and  energy  that  were  remarkable,  and  that 
adapted  him  peculiarly  to  missionary  labor.  He  de- 
lighted to  go  from  church  to  church  and  from  house  to 
house  urging  and  entreating  souls  to  trust  in  Christ. 
His  labors  in  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  Chau- 
tauque  County,  New  York,  were  peculiarly  blessed. 
During  his  labors  in  this  region,  there  were  many  cases 
of  the  "bodily  exercise,"  spoken  of  in  a  preceding 
chapter.  This  was  considered  by  Mr.  Camp  as  of  very 
great  importance,  as  a  manifestation  of  the  divine 
Spirit,  and  a  most  encouraging  feature  connected  with 
his  labors.  Perhaps  Mr.  Camp  was  the  first  member 
of  the  Presbytery  who  was  known  technically  as  a 
"  revival  minister."  He  seems  to  have  been  more  suc- 
cessful in  his  labors  as  an  Evangelist  than  as  a  settled 
pastor.  On  the  8th  day  of  September,  1819,  he  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Westfield, 
New  York.  In  these  services  Mr.  Piggs  preached  the 
sermon,  and  Mr.  Tait  delivered  the  charges. 

At  this  meeting,  a  complaint  was  brought  against  the 
session  of  the  church  of  North  East,  for  inviting  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church  "  To  be  active  with  them 
at  the  Monthly  Concert  of  Prayer."  The  Presbytery 
"  Resolved,  That  we  deem  it  wrong  that  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  a  church  that  holds  doctrines  contrary 


HISTORY.  97 

to  our  confession  of  faith,  be  invited  to  be  active  mem- 
bers in  our  prayer  meetings."  This  activity  consisted  in 
leading  in  prayer.  Against  this  action  Thomas  Robinson 
complained  to  Synod.  A  reference  to  the  action  of  this 
latter  body  shows  that  whilst  the  Synod  approved  of  the 
zeal  of  Presbytery  for  the  purity  of  the  church,  they  yet 
feared  that  in  this  particular  case  the  zeal  was  not  alto- 
gether according  to  knowledge,  and  intimated  kindly 
that  the  record  was  not  judicious  or  charitable. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1819,  Reid  Bracken  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Plain  ;  and  on  the  same  day  calls  from  the  congregation 
of  Middlesex  were  placed  in  his  hands  and  accepted  by 
him. 

On  the  loth  of  February,  1820,  the  Congregational 
church  of  Lottsville  asked  to  be  taken  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery.  The  request  was  granted,  and  Deacon 
Fox  enrolled  as  a  member.  On  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber following,  on  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Law- 
renceburg,  the  congregation  of  Ebenezer  was  recog- 
nized as  under  the  care  of  Presbytery ;  and  on  the  same 
day  Mr.  Bracken  was  installed  as  pastor  at  Middlesex 
for  half  his  time. 

The  Presbytery  at  this  time  began  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  another  division  of  its  boundaries.  The 
labor  of  travelling  to  meetings  of  Presbytery  was  great, 
and  that  of  supplying  vacancies  and  performing  mission- 
ary work  was  still  more  arduous.  Accordingly,  at  a 
meeting  held  at  Middlesex,  Butler  County,  Pa.,  on  the 
28th  of  September,  1820,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Boyd  and  Mr.  Eaton,  was  appointed  to  propose  a  divis- 
ion line  of  Presbytery.  On  the  following  day  they  pre- 
sented the  following  report,  which  was  embodied  in  a 
7 


98  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

request  to  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  for  the  necessary 
action :  — 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  request  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  at  its  next  meeting,  to  set  off  a 
new  Presbytery  by  a  line  commencing  at  the  mouth  of 
Little  Neshannock  Creek ;  thence  up  Big  Neshannock  to 
the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek  ;  thence  up  Yellow  Creek  to 
Hosack's  Mill ;  thence  along  the  Mercer  Road  to  Frank- 
lin, and  north  of  Franklin  to  the  mouth  of  French 
Creek  ;  thence  up  the  Alleghany  to  the  State  line ;  to 
include  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  McPherrin,  Abraham 
Boyd,  Robert  McGarraugh,  Cyrus  Riggs,  Reid  Bracken, 
John  Munson,  and  John  Redick  ;  and  all  the  congrega- 
tions south  of  that  line,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of 
Alleghany  Presbytery." 

This  request  was  granted  by  the  Synod ;  and  the  new 
Presbytery  was  directed  to  hold  its  first  meeting  "  at 
the  town  of  Butler,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  1821,  at 
twelve  o'clock  ;  to  be  opened  with  a  sermon  by  the  Rev. 
John  McPherrin,  and  in  case  of  his  absence,  by  the 
next  senior  minister  present,  who  is  to  preside  until  a 
moderator  be  chosen." 

At  that  meeting  of  Synod  the  Presbytery  reported 
thirteen  ministers  and  forty-seven  congregations.  Of 
these  ministers  Mr.  Chase  was  without  charge  ;  Mr. 
Tait  settled  at  Mercer  and  Salem  ;  Mr.  McPherrin  at 
Butler  and  Concord ;  Abraham  Boyd  at  Bull  Creek 
and  Deer  Creek ;  Mr.  McGarraugh  at  New  Rehoboth 
and  Licking  ;  Mr.  Riggs  at  Scrubgrass  and  Unity  ;  Mr. 
Eaton  at  Fairview  and  Erie ;  Mr.  Bracken  at  Nebo 
and  Middlesex ;  Mr.  Condit  at  Fairfield,  Big  Sugar 
Creek,  and  Sandy  ;  Mr.  Redick  at  Slate  Lick  and  Union  ; 
Mr.  Munson  at  Plaingrove  and  Center ;  and  Mr.  Camp 
at  Westfield.  Mr.  Alden  was  President  of  Alleghany 
College. 


history:  99 

It  was  now  twelve  years  since  the  previous  division  of 
the  Presbytery ;  the  territory  had  been  more  fully  occu- 
pied, and  although  the  number  of  ministers  on  the  roll 
had  not  been  largely  increased,  yet  the  general  results 
were  encouraging.  Revivals  of  religion  had  not  been  so 
numerous  nor  so  powerful  as  during  the  first  period  of 
the  history  of  Presbytery ;  yet  the  churches  were  not 
without  the  presence  and  refreshing  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  During  these  years  the  narrative  of  the 
state  of  religion  was  not  recorded  ;  yet  in  1818,  the  min- 
utes record  this  testimony :  "  The  Presbytery  are  of 
opinion  that  the  evidences  in  favor  of  God's  visiting 
most  of  our  congregations  with  his  grace,  are  more  hope- 
ful than  they  have  been  for  years  past."  Again,  the  next 
year,  afler  "  a  free  conversation,"  as  they  term  it,  in 
which  they  bewail  carelessness  and  lukewarmness,  they 
say :  "  The  Presbytery  are  of  opinion,  that  there  are 
evidences  of  God's  having  graciously  visited  several  of 
our  congregations  and  vacancies  especially,  in  a  manner 
not  witnessed  for  some  years  past." 

It  was  during  these  years  that  the  revivals  connected 
with  Mr.  Camp's  labors  are  reported,  in  which  the 
"  bodily  exercise  "  was  prevalent. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FROM    THE    SECOND    DIVISION    OF    PRESBYTERY    TO    THE 
GREAT    DIVISION. 

1820-1837. 

By  the  late  organization  of  the  new  Presbytery  of 
Alleghany,  the  bounds  of  Presbytery  were  very  much 
reduced.  It  now  consisted  of  the  counties  of  Erie  and 
Crawford,  with  portions  of  those  of  Mercer,  Venango, 
and  Warren.  The  territory  was  reduced  about  one  half 
in  its  extent. 

Its  members  numbered  but  six,  one  less  than  when  it 
held  its  first  meeting  in  1802.  Samuel  Tait  was  settled 
at  Salem  and  Mercer ;  Johnston  Eaton  at  Fairview 
and  Erie ;  Ira  Condit  at  Fairfield,  Big  Sugar  Creek,  and 
Sandy ;  Amos  Chase  without  charge  ;  Timothy  Alden, 
President  of  Alleghany  College ;  and  Phineas  Camp 
at  Westfield,  New  York.  At  the  next  meeting  of  Synod, 
they  reported  twenty-nine  congregations,  the  names  of 
which,  in  addition  to  the  pastoral  charges  given  above, 
are  :  Westfield,  Poland,  Springfield,  North  East,  Ripley, 
Conneaut,  Waterford,  Middlebrook,  Cussawago,  Gravel 
Run,  Union,  Oil  Creek,  Great  Brokenstraw,  Lottsville, 
Beachwoods,  Warren,  Tidioute,  Alleghany,  Conneaut 
Lake,  Harmonsburg,  and  United  Christian  Society. 

The  circumstances  under  which  the  Presbytery 
were  now  situated,  were  somewhat  discouraging.    There 


HISTORY.  101 

were  but  four  pastoral  charges,  leaving  over  twenty 
vacant  churches  to  be  supplied  and  nurtured.  And 
these  vacancies  were  generally  weak.  With  the  exception 
of  Meadville,  not  one,  or  even  two  combined,  seemed 
able  to  support  a  minister.  Still  the  Presbytery  do  not 
seem  disheartened,  but  give  themselves  to  the  work, 
and  set  forward  as  though  they  meant  to  accomplish  the 
work  set  before  them. 

The  first  meeting  of  Presbytery,  after  bidding  fare- 
well to  the  brethren  who  were  to  set  up  the  gates  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany,  was  at  Gravel  Run,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  17th  day  of  April,  1821.  Mr.  Tait  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  Mr.  Alden  clerk.  John  Van 
Liew  (30),  a  licentiate  of  the  Classis  of  New  Brunswick, 
being  present,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery. Mr.  Van  Liew  was  a  licentiate  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church.  He  was  licensed  by  the  Classis  of  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  had  preached  but  a  short  time 
before  coming  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  The 
prospect  was  promising  for  his  settlement  at  Meadville, 
and  he  was  willing  to  change  his  ecclesiastical  relation 
in  order  to  enter  this  field  of  usefulness.  He  was  a  young 
man,  and  while  in  the  dew  of  youth,  entered  zealously 
upon  the  work. 

As  a  part  of  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery, the  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion  is  recorded. 
It  is  the  first  instance  in  which  this  was  done.  It  is 
reported  that  "  there  is  an  increasing  attention  to  the 
means  of  grace.  Our  vacancies  are  earnestly  soliciting 
ministerial  labors.  Several  congregations  have  been 
organized  during  the  year,  and  some  are  preparing  for, 
and  are  uncommonly  anxious  to  settle,  a  minister." 

"  Our  benevolent  societies  have  felt  the  general 
pressure  of  the  times ;  but,  unwilling  to  relax  in  their 


102  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

exertions,  have,  in  some  cases,  given  their  mites  in 
clothing  and  books  for  the  Indian  schools. 

"  In  some  congregations,  there  have  been  a  number 
of  hopeful  additions.  The  most  general  awakening  has 
been  in  Mercer  and  Salem,  which  were  visited  last  sum- 
mer with  the  special  influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
The  fruits  of  these  gracious  influences  have  been  sixty 
added  to  the  church." 

"  The  number  of  Sabbath-schools  has  been  increasing, 
and  their  efforts  flattering.  The  monthly  concert  of 
prayer  is  attended,  and  in  some  of  our  churches  the 
pious  are  in  the  habit  of  spending  Wednesday  evening 
for  the  effusion  of  the  Divine  influence  on  the  ministers 
and  churches  with  which  they  are  in  connection." 

This  is  the  first  mention  of  the  Sabbath-school  enter- 
prise. It  is  not  probable  that  schools  were  organized 
generally  through  the  country  churches.  The  people 
generally  were  scattered  over  a  large  extent  of  country, 
and  could  not  conveniently  meet  for  that  purpose.  But 
in  the  towns  and  villages  the  matter  seems  to  have  been 
generally  attended  to.  Mr.  Alden  was  the  great  apostle 
of  Sabbath-schools  in  the  Presbytery.  When  not  engaged 
in  his  Indian  missions,  he  spent  his  available  time  in 
going  through  its  bounds,  organizing  schools,  visiting 
those  already  organized,  and  encouraging  the  enterprise 
by  his  counsel  and  his  efforts.  The  facilities  for  carrying 
on  schools  were  not  good.  Books  were  scarce  and  un- 
suitable in  character.  The  Bible,  the  Catechism,  and 
oral  instruction  must  be  the  chief  dependence.  And 
these,  with  an  earnest  prayerful  heart  on  the  part  of 
teachers  and  superintendent,  were  blessed  to  great  good 
by  the  Head  of  the  Church. 

On  the  21st  day  of  August,  1821,  John  Van  Liew 
was    ordained   and   installed  as  pastor  of  the  congre- 


HISTORY.  103 

gation  of  Meadville.  In  these  services  Mr.  Eaton 
preached  from  these  words :  "  How  shall  they  hear 
without  a  preacher  ? "  Rom.  iii.  10  ;  and  Mr.  Chase  pre- 
sided and  delivered  the  charges. 

This  settlement  of  Mr.  Van  Liew  was  the  dawn  of 
better  days  to  the  church  of  Meadville.  For  the  last 
three  or  four  years  they  had  been  dependent  mainly  on 
supplies.  During  a  portion  of  that  time,  by  a  private 
arrangement,  they  had  enjoyed  the  labors  of  Mr.  Al- 
den  and  Allan  D.  Campbell,^  then  in  connection  with 
the  Associate  Reformed  Church.  These  brethren  sup- 
plied on  alternate  Sabbaths.  But  there  was  dissatisfac- 
tion in  the  church.  At  one  time  they  were  on  the  eve 
of  calling  Mr.  Campbell,  and  putting  the  church  under 
the  care  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery.  But 
this  intention  failed.  The  people  became  united  in  Mr. 
Van  Liew  ;  the  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  Pres- 
bytery ceased,  and  the  church  began  to  prosper.  The 
whole  of  Mr.  Van  Liew's  time  was  taken,  and  the  con- 
gregation was  thenceforward  self-sustaining. 

On  the  21st  of  August,  1821,  Mr.  Camp's  pastoral 
relation  to  the  church  of  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  was  dissolved. 
The  pastoral  work  was  not  so  congenial  to  him  as 
the  work  of  an  Evangelist.  He  felt  most  at  home 
when  travelling  from  place  to  place,  and  seeking  out 
destitute  points,  and  preaching  the  Word  of  Life. 

In  February,  1822,  Presbytery,  after  considering  the 
destitution  of  the  vacant  churches  under  its  care,  sent 
a  pastoral  letter  to  each  vacant  church,  proposing  a 
plan  for  their  relief,  and  stimulating  them  to  exertion 
on  their  own  part.  After  reminding  them  of  their  delin- 
quencies in  the  matter  of  remunerating  their  supplies, 
they  say :  "  The  plan  we  have  adopted  for  the  pur- 
1  Born  in  England,  1791;   licensed,  1815;  ordained,  1818;  died,  1861. 


104  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

pose  of  remedying  this  defect,  is  as  follows :  Every 
vacant  congregation  shall  become  responsible  by  its 
proper  officers,  or  otherwise,  for  as  large  a  sum  as  can 
be  raised  with  certainty  within  the  bounds.  The  sum 
thus  raised,  with  the  aid  expected  to  be  obtained  from 
missionary  societies,  will  probably  be  sufficient  for  the 
support  of  a  missionary  the  whole  year.  As  an  induce- 
ment for  exertion,  we  hold  out  the  assurance  that 
every  congregation  shall  receive  its  quota  of  missionary 
labor  in  proportion  to  the  moneys  raised  within  its 
bounds.  Let  it  be  also  understood  that  the  service  of 
the  missionary  in  each  place  will,  with  the  expected  aid 
from  abroad,  be  nearly  double  the  amount  subscribed.'' 

This  appeal  was  responded  to  at  the  next  meeting  of 
Presbytery  by  eleven  churches,  reporting  in  the  aggre- 
gate two  hundred  and  eighty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 

In  the  autumn  of  1822,  Mr.  Tait  was  appointed  by 
Synod  as  superintendent,  pro  tern.,  of  the  mission  fam- 
ily about  to  be  located  among  the  Ottowa  Indians  on 
the  Maumee  River,  and  the  Presbytery  was  directed  to 
supply  his  pulpit  during  his  absence.  This  position  he 
held  for  about  seven  months. 

In  the  mean  time  trouble  was  brewing  in  Springfield, 
in  Erie  County,  Pa.  A  Presbyterian  church  had  been 
organized  there  by  Mr.  Eaton  in  the  year  1806.  Of 
this  church  he  had  been  the  pastor  for  many  years. 
About  the  year  1821,  a  Congregational  church  was 
formed.  The  consequence  was,  that  the  effiarts  of  the 
people  were  divided.  Bickerings  and  heart-burnings 
were  engendered,  and  the  matter  was  brought  to  the 
notice  of  Synod.  The  Congregational  wing  of  the 
church  had  applied  to  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River  to 
be  taken  under  its  care.  This  Presbytery  was  advised 
by  Synod  not  to  take  the  church   under  its   care,  and 


HISTORY.  105 

a  committee  appointed  to  visit  Springfield  to  endeavor 
to  reconcile  difficulties,  and  recommending  the  two  con- 
gregations of  Springfield  to  observe  the  15th  of  the  fol- 
lowing November  as  a  day  o^  fasting  and  prayer. 

The  committee,  consisting  of  Thomas  Edgar  Hughes, 
an  old  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  E.  T.  Wood- 
ruff, and  Randolph  Stone,  visited  Springfield,  held  a 
"  free  conversation  "  with  the  people  of  the  two  congre- 
gations, and  heard  statements  from  both  parties.  The 
Presbyterian  brethren  were  then  requested  to  withdraw, 
when  the  committee  proposed  to  the  Congregational 
brethren  a  union  with  the  Presbyterians,  on  condition 
of  being  present  at  the  examination  of  candidates  for 
membership  in  the  church,  and  asking  such  questions 
as  conscience  might  dictate,  and  also  of  attending  all 
cases  of  trial  and  discipline.  This  was  agreed  to.  The 
Congregational  brethren  then  withdrew,  and  the  Pres- 
byterian brethren  were  called  in.  The  terms  of  union 
on  the  part  of  the  former  were  laid  before  them  and 
aorreed  to,  and  the  Conj^^recrationalists  were  called  in, 
when  the  following  resolution  was  mutually  adopted  :  — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  present  ruling  elders  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  namely,  Charles  Manly,  Isaac 
Miller,  James  Blair,  Robert  Porter,  and  Allen  Law,  and 
the  present  acting  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church, 
namely,  William  Branch,  be,  and  are  hereby  consti- 
tuted, the  standing  committee  of  the  United  Church  of 
Springfield,  according  to  the  principles  of  union  recom- 
mended by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  the  General  Association  of  Connecti- 
cut." 1 

Against  this  action  of  the  committee,  the  Presbytery 
complained.  The  elders  of  the  church  at  Springfield 
1  Minutes  of  Synod,  1823. 


106  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

wrote  to  Presbytery  for  advice  in  the  matter.  After 
discussing  the  action  of  the  committee,  Presbytery  re- 
solved that  said  committee  had  "  assumed  a  stretch  of 
power  not  authorized  by  the  constitution  or  usages  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  setting  aside  the  eldership 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield,  as  the  said 
Synodical  committee  virtually  did,  by  appointing  a  com- 
mittee that  was  to  supersede  the  elders  of  that  church ; 
and  tlierefore  that  the  act  of  said  Synodical  committee, ^ 
and  thus  setting  aside  the  eldership  of  that  church,  is 
null  and  void."  ^ 

They  further  resolved  that  the  elders  of  said  church 
were  the  constitutional  officers. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  Synod  the  matter  was  com- 
promised and  settled  by  Synod  declaring  that  the 
action  of  the  committee  did  not  affect  the  standing 
or  position  of  the  session,  but  simply  added  Deacon 
Branch  to  their  number. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1823,  Rev.  William  Kennedy 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Huntington,  and 
at  the  same  meeting  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Alleghany.  He  seems  to  have  passed  from  that  Pres- 
bytery to  some  other  the  same  year  or  the  next,  as  his 
name  does  not  appear  on  the  roll  after  the  next  meet- 
ing of  Synod. 

On  the  1st  of  October  of  the  same  year,  John  Bar- 
rett, a  licentiate  of  the  Andover  Association  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  was  received  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery.  He  labored  for  a  time  in  the  vacant 
churches,  but  was  never  settled,  and  was  eventually  dis- 
missed to  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River,  in 
1826. 

At  this  meeting  also,  Presbytery  received  under  its 
1  Min.  ii.  142. 


HISTORY.  107 

care  three  candidates  for  the  gospel  ministry, —  Thomas 
Anderson  (37),  a  graduate  of  Washington  College,  and 
Absalom  McCready  (36),  and  John  C.  Tidball,  graduates 
of  Jefferson  College.  The  first  two  were  eventually 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  ;  the  latter  was 
dismissed  to  another  Presbytery.  Mr.  Judah  Ely,  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Niagara,  was  permitted 
to  labor  for  a  time  within  the  bounds,  but  was  never 
received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1824,  Bradford  Marcy  (31), 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island.  He 
had  been  living  for  some  time  in  Crawford  County,  but 
had  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
these  he  was  successful.  He  had  no  pastoral  charge  in 
the  Presbytery.  Although  a  man  of  some  learning  and 
zeal,  yet  his  success  in  the  pastoral  work  was  confined 
to  his  earlier  fields  of  labor  at  Islep,  on  Long  Island, 
and  in  New  Jersey. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1824,  the  pastoral  relation  be- 
tween Mr.  Van  Liew  and  the  church  of  Meadville  was 
dissolved.  Mr.  Van  Liew's  health  had  been  feeble  for 
some  time,  and  feeling  that  it  might  be  improved  by 
returning  to  the  sea-board,  asked  to  be  released  for  that 
purpose.  On  the  following  day  he  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Jersey. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1825,  Mr.  Camp  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Lawrence  ;  and  on  the 
same  day  David  McKinney  (32),  a  hcentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  was  taken  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery,  and  accepted  calls  from  the  congregation 
of  Erie,  Pa.  At  this  meeting  Presbytery  assigned  to 
Mr.  McCready,  as  a  theme  for  a  Latin  exegesis  :  "  Non 
ignari  mali  miseris,  sucurrere  disco ; "  and  to  Mr.  An- 
derson :  "  Auri  sacra  fames." 


108  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1825,  Nathan  Harned  (34),  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  Giles 
Doolittle  (33),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida, 
were  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1825,  David  McKinney  was' 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  1st  Presby- 
terian congregation  of  Erie.  In  these  services  Mr. 
Alden  preached,  and  Mr.  Tait  delivered  the  charges. 
^This  was  the  first  pastoral  settlement  in  the  church  at 
Erie.  Mr.  Patterson  had  first  labored  statedly  for  a 
time,  and  a  call  was  made  out  for  his  pastoral  labors  in 
connection  with  North  East  and  Middlebrook,  but  he 
was  never  installed.  Afterwards  Mr.  Eaton  labored  for 
some  five  years  from  one  third  to  one  half  of  his  time, 
but  it  was  simply  as  a  stated  supply.  They  worshipped 
at  this  time  in  the  "  Yellow  Meeting-house."  Mr.  Colt 
was  the  principal  ruling  elder  and  prime  patron  of  the 
church.  He  had  been  converted  under  the  ministra- 
tions of  Mr.  McCurdy  of  Cross  Roads,  and  had  con- 
nected with  the  church  at  Upper  Greenfield,  on  Middle- 
brook,  and  was  always  a  consistent,  earnest  Christian 
and  efficient  ruling  elder.  Now  a  pastor  was  called, 
and  the  church  began  to  gather  strength,  and  has 
since  exerted  a  most  important  influence  in  the  com- 
munity. The  session  of  the  church  had  been  in  corre- 
spondence with  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  in  relation  to 
a  student  of  Princeton.  The  doctor  states  in  a  letter 
dated  June  3,  1823 :  "  We  are  not  able  to  meet  the 
demands  for  missionaries;  not  more  than  a  tenth  of 
the  calls  can  be  answered."  Dr.  Alexander  had  first 
recommended  to  Mr.  Colt,  Joseph  H.  Jones,^  speaking 
of  him  as  "  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  of  re- 
spectable talents  and  acquirements,  and  very  amiable  in 
1  Now  Dr.  Jones  of  Philadelphia. 


HISTORY.  109 

his  manner  and  disposition."  The  salary  spoken  of 
was  "  thirty-three  dollars  per  month."  Mr.  Jones  vis- 
ited Erie,  travelling  on  horseback,  and  spent  some 
weeks,  making  a  most  favorable  impression.  He  after- 
wards declined  the  call  to  Erie.  Dr.  Alexander  then 
wrote  under  date  of  January  16,  1824  :  — 

"  I  have  concluded  to  advise  that  David  Mc Kinney, 
now  in  the  seminary,  should  pay  you  a  visit  in  the  Fall. 
He  is  a  young  man,  not  of  showy,  but  of  solid  talents. 
As  a  student,  he  is  indefatigable,  and  possesses  a  sound 
judgment,  with  an  excellent  character  for  piety." 

Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  McKinney  entered 
upon  the  work,  and  was  rewarded  with  a  good  degree 
of  success.  If  the  thirty-three  dollars  per  month  was 
not  sufficient,  it  was  eked  out  by  teaching  and  other 
arrangements. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1825,  Giles  Doolittle  (33)  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  congre- 
gations of  North  East  and  Ripley,  the  former  in  Erie 
County,  Pa.,  the  latter  in  Chautauque  County,  N.  Y. 
In  these  services,  Mr.  Eaton  preached,  and  Mr.  Tait 
delivered  the  charges.  North  East  had  been  formerly 
known  as  Lower  Greenfield,  and  had  constituted  a  part 
of  the  pastoral  charge  of  Mr.  Patterson,  and  from  which 
he  had  been  released  in  1807.  Ripley  had  not  hereto- 
fore engaged  the  labors  of  a  pastor.  Mr.  Doolittle  was 
a  most  excellent  pastor.  Accustomed  from  childhood  to 
exertion  and  effort,  he  labored  most  assiduously  for  the 
building  up  of  his  congregations.  He  was  successful. 
His  people  enjoyed  several  revivals  during  his  pastor- 
ate. In  some  things  he  differed  from  his  brethren,  yet 
he  always  had  the  glory  of  God  in  view,  and  labored 
earnestly  for  the  good  of  souls.  Although  he  found 
many  difficulties  in  his  way,  he  yet,  by  precept  and  ex- 


110  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

ample  sought  to  lead  the  erring,  the  opposing,  and  the 
indifferent  in  the  way  of  life. 

In  the  year  1825,  Messrs.  Tait  and  Eaton  were 
appointed  to  prepare  a  history  of  Presbytery,  and  the 
members  enjoined  to  grant  them  such  aid  as  might  be 
in  their  power.  One  year  from  this  time  the  committee 
reported  progress,  and  were  directed  to  continue  their 
labors. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1825,  Nathan  Harned  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  congrega- 
tions of  Warren,  Sugar  Grove,  Great  Brokenstraw,  and 
Lottsville.  Mr.  Tait  preached  on  the  occasion,  and  Mr. 
Chase  delivered  the  charges.  Here  was  a  wide  field, 
and  one  that  has  continued,  with  the  exception  of  War- 
ren, missionary  ground  for  more  than  forty  years. 

On  the  28th  day  of  December  of  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Condit  was  released  from  the  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Big  Sugar  Creek,  and  devoted  the  one  third  of 
his  time  to  that  of  Amity,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Alle- 
ghany. On  the  same  day,  Absalom  McCready  (36),  and 
Thomas  Anderson  (37),  were  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1825,  Mr.  Tait  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Salem,  where  he 
had  been  laboring  for  the  third  of  his  time ;  and  a  call 
was  put  into  his  hands  for  the  whole  of  his  time  from 
the  congregation  of  Mercer.  This  call  was  accepted  on 
the  following  month,  when  the  whole  of  his  time  was 
given  to  Mercer,  until  the  period  of  his  death. 

The  first  place  of  preaching  in  Mercer  was  the  upper 
room  of  the  jail,  an  old  log  building  that  stood  near 
the  Diamond.  The  first  effort  towards  the  erection  of 
a  house  of  worship,  was  made  by  drawing  logs  and  put- 
ting up  the  body  of  a  house,  but  the  building  was  never 


HISTORY.  Ill 

covered.  After  this  a  brick  building  was  erected,  but 
so  frail  was  the  construction,  that  it  was  never  consid- 
ered safe,  and  was  finally  abandoned.  It  was  not  until 
the  year  1830,  that  a  comfortable  house  was  erected. 

On  the  18th  of  January,  1826,  Mr.  Harned  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Great  Brokenstraw  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  the  organization  of  a  church  at 
Randolph,  in  Crawford  County,  was  reported. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1826,  Mr.  Condit  accepted  calls 
from  the  congregation  of  Upper  Sandy,  now  George- 
town.  This  call  was  for  one  third  of  Mr.  Condit's 
time.  On  the  24th  of  May  following,  Mr.  Chase  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Oil  Creek, 
for  half  his  tiine.  This  church  is  now  known  as  Titiis- 
ville.  Mr.  Chase  had  for  the  last  ten  years  acted  as  a 
missionary  through  the  country  now  known  as  the  ''  Oil 
Region."  He  had  gathered  this  church,  and  established 
a  preaching-point  at  Centerville,  in  which  he  was  in- 
stalled the  following  year,  a  church  having  been  organ- 
ized by  Mr.  McKinney,  and  wished  for  a  little  relief 
from  the  constant  travel ;  yet  he  reserved  still  one 
fourth  of  his  time  for  the  regions  beyond. 

On  the  24th  day  of  ^May  of  this  year.  Wells  Rush- 
nell  (35),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick, was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and 
accepted  calls  from  the  congregation  of  Meadville. 
His  ordination  took  place  on  the  22d  of  June  follow- 
ing, when  he  was  regularly  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregation.  In  these  services,  Mr.  Stockton,  the  first 
pastor  of  the  church,  being  present  by  invitation, 
preached  the  sermon.  Mr.  Tait  delivered  the  charge 
to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Eaton  the  charge  to  the  people. 

On  the  24th  of  May,  1826,  Mr.  Harned  was  released 
from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  War- 


112  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

ren  and  Sugar  Grove,  and  on  the  22d  of  June  follow- 
ing, he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford. 
In  June  of  this  year  the  congregation  of  North  Bank, 
in  Crawford  County,  was  organized. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  Absalom  McCready  (36) 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  con- 
gregations of  Middlebrook  and  Beaverdam,  in  Erie 
County.  Mr.  McKinney  preached  the  sermon,  Mr. 
Tait  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Doo- 
little  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Middlebrook  was  formerly  known  as  Upper  Green- 
field, and  had  constituted  a  part  of  Mr.  Patterson's 
charge  as  early  as  1803.  It  was  in  fact  one  of  the  old- 
est churches  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 

On  the  19th  day  of  September  following,  Thomas 
Anderson  (37)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  united  congregations  of  Big  Sugar  Creek,  Concord, 
and  Franklin,  in  Venango  County.  Mr.  Bushnell 
preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Chase  delivered  the  charge 
to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  McKinney  the  charge  to  the 
people.  Previous  to  this  time  Franklin  had  been  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany,  but  was  about 
this  time,  at  the  request  of  the  congregation,  set  over 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  It  was  an  arduous  charge 
upon  which  Mr.  Anderson  entered.  Concord  was 
twenty  miles  distant  from  either  of  the  other  two  con- 
gregations, and  they  were  seven  miles  asunder.  The 
roads  were  bad,  and  the  weather  often  stormy.  The 
congregations  too,  were  weak,  and  the  salary  small. 
Once  whilst  living  in  Franklin,  the  barrel  of  meal  and 
the  cruse  of  oil  were  just  about  failing.  The  family 
sat  down  to  breakfast  on  bread  and  molasses,  and 
coffee.  The  usual  blessing  was  sought.  The  bread 
and   molasses  were    discussed.     The    minister  betook 


HISTORY.  113 

him  to  his  study,  telling  the  family  that  God  would 
provide  for  them,  as  He  fed  even  the  little  birds ;  the 
mother  sat  down  to  her  toil  until  the  evening,  when 
two  sons  of  good  Mrs.  Bowman  appeared  with  a  basket 
filled  with  comforts  and  even  luxuries.  That  night  the 
pastor  thanked  God  for  "  friends,  food,  and  raiment." 

The  church  of  Franklin  consisted  at  the  time  of  Mr. 
Anderson's  settlement  of  but  fourteen  members.  The 
first  communion  was  held  on  the  bank  of  French 
Creek,  under  the  shade  of  the  trees.  He  was  the  first 
pastor,  and  always  afterward  spoke  of  it  as  his  first  love. 
On  the  11th  of  January,  1827,  Pierce  Chamberlain 
(38),  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  was 
received  as  a  member  of  Presbytery.  He  was  a  meek, 
quiet,  good  man,  who  had  devoted  much  time  and  labor 
to  missionary  work.  From  the  prisons  and  almshouses 
of  Philadelphia,  he  had  come  to  the  missionary  terri- 
tory of  Northwestern  Pennsylvania.  And  he  did  good 
service  in  this  work.  He  was  constantly  going  from 
point  to  point,  preaching,  organizing  Sabbath-schools, 
and  encouraging  the  vacant  churches. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  1827,  the  people  of  Cool 
Spring  petitioned  Presbytery  for  a  new  organization. 
They  had  been  disbanded  now  for  some  years,  and  had 
generally  been  identified  with  Mercer.  But  the  settle- 
ment was  filling  up.  It  was  some  distance  to  Mercer, 
and  they  thought  their  interests  required  a  separate  or- 
ganization. The  measure  was  opposed  by  Mr.  Tait  with 
all  his  accustomed  warmth  and  energy,  and  the  consid- 
eration of  the  petition  was  postponed  until  the  next 
meeting  of  Presbytery.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  Bushnell 
was  appointed  to  organize  the  church,  who  at  a  subse- 
quent meeting,  ''April  29,  1828,  reported  that  he  had 
organized  the  church. 
8 


114  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1827,  Mr.  Condit  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Georgetown. 
This  was  formerly  known  as  Upper  Sandy  congregation. 
Mr.  Condit  labored  here  for  one  third  of  his  time. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1828,  James  Alexander  (40),  a 
member  of  the  church  of  Mercer,  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1828,  Peter  Hassinger  (39),  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  was  taken 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  On  the  1st  of  October 
following,  Mr.  Hassinger  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Gravel  Run,  in  Crawford 
County.  Mr.  Doolittle  preached  on  the  occasion.  Mr. 
Chase  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr. 
McKinney  to  the  people.  In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain had  been  called  to  the  church  at  Springfield. 
His  feeling  and  desire  were  to  accept,  but  feebleness 
of  health  compelled  him  to  return  the  call,  and  devote 
himself  to  missionary  work. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1828,  James  Alexander  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united  congrega- 
tions of  Salem,  Greenville,  and  Big  Bend.  Mr.  Cham- 
berlain preached.  Mr.  Eaton  delivered  the  charge  to 
the  pastor,  and  Rev.  H.  Coe,  who  was  present  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Grand  River,  the  charge  to  the  people. 

April  22,  1829,  Mr.  Condit  was  dismissed  from 
Amity. 

During  these  last  years  some  interesting  revivals  of  re- 
ligion had  occurred.  In  Mr.  Doolittle's  charge  the  Spirit 
of  God  had  been  poured  out  with  power.  Some  inter- 
esting cases  are  reported  of  the  manner  in  which  these 
manifestations  were  at  first  noticed.  In  North  East, 
an  elder  ^  was  awakened  in  the  middle  of  the  night  by 
1  William  Dickson. 


HISTORY.  115 

a  messenger  from  the  country.  On  inquiry  as  to  his 
desire,  he  cried  out,  — 

"  O,  do  come  out  and  see ,  he  is  in  a  most 

dreadful  way." 

"  But  what  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"  He  is  suffering  everything.  Come  out  quickly  and 
do  something  for  him." 

"  Go  for  the  doctor  if  he  is  sick ;  I  am  not  the  one  to 
send  for  on  such  an  occasion." 

"  But  it  is  not  the  doctor  he  wants.  He  complains  of 
his  sins,  and  is  afraid  he  will  be  lost  forever;  and  we 
thought  you  could  come  and  pray  for  him,  and  maybe 
do  him  some  good.     We  did  not  know  what  else  to  do." 

The  elder  went  out  and  prayed,  and  counseled  with 
the  young  man.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  good 
work.  Soon  after,  during  the  progress  of  some  meet- 
ings, a  strong,  honest  man  from  the  country,  known  as 
Billy  Wilson,  was  at  the  church  on  the  Sabbath.  God's 
Spirit  was  stirring  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  many, 
who  had  hardly  a  religious  conviction  before,  were 
moved  and  melted  by  his  power.  Wilson  felt  troubled 
and  anxious  without  fully  comprehending  his  feelings. 
They  were  new  to  him.  During  the  recess  between 
sermons  he  stepped  over  to  the  hotel,  and  was  standing 
before  the  fire,  doubtful  as  to  the  cause  of  his  strange 
feelings.  At  length,  stepping  up  to  the  bar,  he  said,  ad- 
dressing the  proprietor:  " Lem,  I  feel  most  dreadful 
bad  to-day ;  I  guess  I'll  take  a  little  whiskey  ;  the  day 
is  raw,  and  it  may  help  me."  The  bar  had  been  par- 
tially closed,  out  of  respect  to  the  Sabbath,  but  a  small 
pigeon-hole  was  left  open  for  the  accommodation  of 
an  occasional  visitor.  The  proprietor  set  down  the 
bottle,  but  still  holding  the  glass  in  his  hand,  seemed 
for  a  moment  in  a  brown  study.  At  length  he  said : 
"  Billy,  where  is  it  that  you  feel  bad  ?  " 


116  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

"  0,  Lem ;  I  feel  monstrous  bad  about  my  heart ;  I 
never  felt  so  before." 

The  bottle  and  glass  were  immediately  returned  to 
the  shelf,  with  the  curt  advice :  "  Billy,  it  is  not  whis- 
key you  want ;  it 's  the  minister.  Go  to  him  at  once, 
for  you're  under  conviction." 

The  result  was  that  Wilson  became  a  Christian,  and 
the  Lord  remembered  Lemuel  Brown  for  his  good 
deed  done  to  one  who  was  under  conviction,  for  many 
years  had  not  rolled  by,  before  he  too  was  brought  into 
the  church. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1829,  the  following  paper  on 
Temperance  was  adopted  :  — 

"  Resolved  —  1.  That  Presbytery  view  with  much 
satisfaction  the  efforts  now  making  in  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance, and  hope  to  see  them  crowned  with  great 
success. 

"  2.  That  we  recommend  to  the  congregations  under 
our  care,  the  formation  of  societies  for  the  promotion 
of  temperance. 

"  3.  That  as  we  have  derived  great  aid  from  the  female 
friends  of  Zion  in  the  cause  of  benevolence,  we  would 
now  recommend  to  them  the  formation  of  societies,  to 
aid,  not  only  by  an  example,  but  also  by  the  whole 
weight  of  their  influence,  the  cause  of  temperance. 

"  4.  That  the  ministers  of  the  Presbytery  form  them- 
selves into  a  temperance  society,  on  the  plan  of  rigid 
and  entire  abstinence  from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits, 
except  for  medicinal  purposes."  ^ 

By  this  time  the  bud,  spoken  of  in  chapter  second, 
as  having  presented  itself  in  1814,  had  expanded  into 
the  full-blown  flower.     Public  opinion  had  made  rapid 

1  Min.  ii.  241. 


HISTORY.  117 

strides  in  the  course  of  fifteen  years,  and  no  doubt  the 
fruit  that  followed  was  good  and  wholesome. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1829,  Mr.  McKinney  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of  Erie. 
At  the  same  meeting  the  Commissioners  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  were  directed  "  to  purchase  sixty  copies  of 
the  '  Confession  of  Faith '  of  our  Church,  for  our  con- 
gregations, for  the  payment  of  which.  Presbytery  will 
be  responsible." 

On  the  24th  of  June  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Condit 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Cool 
Spring,  for  one  third  of  his  time.  This  relation  contin- 
ued until  his  death  in  1836. 

On  the  same  day,  George  A.  Lyon  (41),  a  licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  and  accepted  calls  from  the  congre- 
gation of  Erie.  This  action  was  followed  by  the  ordi- 
nation and  installation  of  Mr.  Lyon  at  the  next  meeting 
of  Presbytery,  September  9, 1829,  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  1st  Presbyterian  Church,  Erie,  Pa.  In 
these  services  Mr.  Doolittle  preached  the  sermon,  Mr. 
Tait  presided,  Mr.  Bushnell  delivered  the  charge  to  the 
pastor,  and  Mr.  Anderson  the  charge  to  the  people. 
Mr.  Lyon  entered  upon  his  work  with  every  encourage- 
ment. He  was  in  the  strength  of  youth,  the  congrega- 
tion was  enlarging  its  boundaries,  and  the  people  were 
unanimous  in  sustaining  him.  The  old  "  Yellow  Meet- 
ing-house "  had  been  abandoned,  and  a  large,  comfortable 
brick  house  was  now  occupied  as  the  place  of  worship. 

At  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery,  the  church  of 
Harmonsburg  was  enrolled.  This  church  is  in  Craw- 
ford County.  A  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  also 
appointed,  "  for  the  purpose  of  unitedly  calling  upon 
God  for  the  outpouring  of  his  Spirit  upon  that  section 


118  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

of  his  church  ^vith  which  we  are  more  especially  con- 
nected, as  well  as  upon  the  church  at  large." 

On  the  13th  of  January,  1830,  Mr.  Chase  was  released 
from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Cen- 
terville,  in  Crawford  County. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  of  the  same  year,  George  W. 
Hampson  (43),  a  member  of  the  church  of  North  East, 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  On  the  same  day 
Mr.  Chase  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  congregation  of  Oil  Creek,  and  Mr.  Doolittle  from 
that  of  Ripley.  Mr.  Doolittle  then  accepted  a  call 
from  North-  East,  for  the  whole  of  his  time. 

On  the  21st  of  September,  1830,  Mr.  McKinney  was 
dismissed  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntington.  He  had  been  a  member  of  Presbytery 
five  years. 

On  the  next  day,  Edson  Hart  (42),  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Trumbull,  was  received  as  a  member  of 
Presbytery. 

On  the  2d  day  of  February,  1831,  Robert  Glenn  (44) 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  had  been  a  stu- 
dent of  Mr.  Tait,  a  man  of  no  pretension  to  brilliancy, 
yet  a  genuine,  earnest  worker  in  the  cause  of  Christ; 
and  his  record  was  marked  with  the  seal  of  God's 
approval  throughout  his  ministry. 

On  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  Mr.  Hassinger  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation 
of  Gravel  Run,  and  on  the  14th  of  April  following, 
Mr.  Anderson  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of 
Concord. 

There  was  a  recommendation  at  this  time  that  throws 
light  upon  the  practice  of  the  church  at  this  period  of 
its  history :  "  Presbytery,  taking  into  consideration  the 
destitute  state  of  the  vacant  congregations  under  their 


HISTORY.  119 

care,  recommend  to  its  members  and  such  vacancies,  to 
adopt  the  practice  of  holding  two,  three,  or  four  days' 
meetings  during  the  week,  and  administering  the  Lord's 
Supper ;  and  that  two  or  three  ministers  go  together  on 
such  occasions."  ^  These  days  were  usually  observed 
in  the  following  order  :  On  Thursday,  a  fast  day  was 
observed.  It  was  not  usually  observed  as  a  day  of 
literal  fasting,  but  simply  as  a  day  of  abstinence  from 
worldly  labor.  On  Saturday,  divine  service  was  held 
as  preparatory  to  the  Communion.  On  Sabbath  the 
conmiunion  service  was  attended  to ;  and  this  was  fol- 
lowed by  service  on  Monday.  It  was  also  usual  to  hold 
evening  service  at  school-houses  in  different  parts  of 
the  congregation,  in  the  evenings  during  these  days. 
Sometimes  two,  and  sometimes  three,  ministers  were 
present  during  these  meetings.  The  services,  particu- 
larly of  the  Sabbath,  were  protracted,  and  the  addresses 
at  the  communion  table  were  long  and  varied. 

Whilst  these  meetings  were  being  held,  the  people  of 
the  congregation,  and  others,  expected  to  give  all  their 
attention  to  the  matter.  Business  was  so  arranged  that 
the  families  could  attend  without  distraction.  This  ex- 
tended in  a  greater  or  less  degree  to  neighboring  con- 
gregations. In  these  days  the  service  was  usually 
known  as  "  The  Sacrament."  Such  a  meeting  was 
known  far  and  near,  and  people  thronged  thither  from 
distances  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  or  more.  Families 
living  near  the  place  of  meeting  always  expected  to 
accommodate  strangers  at  their  houses.  Sometimes 
their  houses  were  crowded  for  two  or  three  days  in  suc- 
cession. Where  the  ordinary  accommodations  were  not 
sufficient,  cots  and  blankets  were  laid  upon  the  floors. 
Everything  was  free  and  welcome  as  the  provisions  of 
1  Min.  iii.  37. 


120  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

the  gospel  they  came  to  receive.  And  for  such  occa- 
sions, families  made  provision  for  weeks  beforehand ; 
and  looked  upon  it  as  a  matter  of  course. 

At  this  time  houses  of  worship  were  generally  pro- 
vided, yet  on  sacramental  occasions  they  often  resorted 
to  the  grove.  There  was  more  room.  The  air  was 
fresh  and  pure.  The  heart  was  more  cheerful.  Some- 
times storms  would  come  up,  and  summer  showers  pour 
down,  but  it  did  not  seem  to  disturb  the  people.  They 
would  sit  unmoved  in  the  driving  rain,  and  the  minis- 
ters would  preach  in  the  storm  as  though  they  knew  not 
of  its  presence.  Nor  were  the  services  abridged  by 
these  unfavorable  circumstances.  The  ministers  came 
to  preach  and  administer  the  ordinances  ;  and  the  peo- 
ple came  to  hear ;  and  so  they  fulfilled  their  intentions, 
without  regard  to  the  clouds  or  the  rain. 

To  these  meetings  as  of  old,  people  came  on  foot  where 
there  were  not  conveniences  for  riding.  Sometimes  the 
oxen  were  attached  to  the  farm-wagon,  and  this  sufficed 
for  the  entire  family.  But  young  women  often  walked 
from  two  to  five  miles  to  "  meeting,"  as  the  service  was 
called.  Sometimes  they  walked  barefooted,  and  carried 
their  shoes  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  meeting- 
house, and  then  put  them  on ;  sometimes  they  wore 
coarse  shoes,  and  exchanged  near  the  place  of  worship, 
leaving  their  coarse  shoes  in  some  place  of  conceal- 
ment. 

These  "  four  days'  meetings,"  in  some  parts  of  the 
Presbytery,  about  the  year  1831,  became  remarkable 
for  a  new  feature.  This  was  the  presence  of  ministers 
who  were  called  revival  men,  or  Evangelists,  as  they 
sometimes  styled  themselves.  They  went  from  place 
to  place,  devoting  themselves  entirely  to  this  kind  of 
work.     In  many  of  these  meetings  the  pastor  of  the 


HISTORY.  121 

church  acted  quite  a  subordinate  part,  leaving  all  to  the 
evangelist,  who  preached  on  day  after  day,  exhorting, 
entreating,  and  persuading  men  to  turn  to  the  Lord. 

About  this  time,  too,  a  new  feature  in  Presbyterian- 
ism  was  introduced,  called  the  "  Anxious  Seat."  It  was 
simply  a  certain  seat  or  seats  set  apart,  to  which  per- 
sons anxious  about  the  concerns  of  the  soul  were  invited 
to  come,  as  an  expression  of  their  feelings,  and  for  the 
purpose  of  being  conversed  with  and  made  the  sub- 
ject of  special  prayer.  Sometimes  such  persons  were 
simply  invited  to  come ;  at  others  they  were  urged 
and  entreated  to  take  this  as  the  most  important  step 
of  their  lives.  Like  almost  every  other  good  work, 
this  was  sometimes  carried  to  an  extreme.  Sometimes 
too  great  stress  was  laid  upon  the  simple  matter  of 
going  to  the  anxious  seat.  Sometimes,  possibly,  per- 
sons were  persuaded  to  go  there  who  had  no  heart  con- 
viction, and  were  disappointed  or  deceived.  But  many 
of  the  ministers  of  that  day  considered  that  they  were 
drawing  the  gospel  net,  and  that  all  were  to  be  gathered 
in,  where  at  the  last  the  good  would  be  gathered  into 
vessels  and  the  bad  cast  away.  Others  opposed  these 
measures.  They  could  not  think  them  necessary,  but 
rejected  them  as  innovations,  and  having  a  dangerous 
tendency.  And  the  records  of  the  churches  show  that 
the  revivals  of  that  day  were  not  confined,  by  any  means, 
to  those  concrreorations  where  the  new  measures  were 
adopted.  As  a  general  thing  the  older  ministers  hesi- 
tated about  countenancing  them.  Such  men  as  Father 
Tait,  although  their  hearts  were  always  warm,  and  the 
spirit  of  revival  always  glowing  in  their  preaching,  felt 
that  "  the  old  paths  "  were  safest  and  best.  In  the 
good  old  days  of  1802,  powerful  revivals  were  enjoyed 
without  them.    Souls  flocked  to  Christ  under  the  simple 


122  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

preaching  of  the  Word,  and  the  irresistible  influences 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  and  they  thought  these  the  best 
means  that  could  be  used. 

On  the  other  hand  the  younger  ministers,  at  least 
many  of  them,  adopted  the  new  measures,  conscien- 
tiously believing  them  best  adapted  to  accomplish  the 
great  object.  Something  was  needed  to  attract  atten- 
tion and  fix  the  mind.  Something  was  wanted  to  in- 
duce inquirers  to  commit  themselves  to  the  great  work, 
and  thus  take  the  first  step  toward  the  service  of  God. 
Something  was  needed  by  way  of  example,  to  induce 
others  to  go  in  the  same  direction.  Thus  they  reasoned, 
and  thus  they  pursued  the  course  that  to  them  seemed 
right.  Great  good  was  done,  no  doubt,  and  many 
brought  into  the  Church. 

But  in  many  cases  disastrous  results  followed.  Some 
of  these  revival  men  were  not  men  after  God's  own 
heart.  Whilst  some  of  them  were  earnest,  conscien- 
tious men,  others  were  moved  only  by  excitement,  if 
not  by  a  more  unworthy  motive  still.  And  at  times 
the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  God's  people  was  healed 
but  slightly.  The  building  was  daubed  with  untem- 
pered  mortar.  Desolation  was  found  in  the  track  of 
what  the  pious,  earnest  people  of  God  thought  was  the 
chariot  of  salvation. 

Nor  is  this  strange  or  unusual.  Satan  strives  to 
counterfeit  every  good  work.  In  the  midst  of  the  won- 
drous works  that  Moses  did  in  the  presence  of  Pha- 
raoh, we  read :  "  These  things  did  the  magicians  with 
their  enchantments."  When  the  Apostles  wrought 
miracles,  and  such  wondrous  scenes  were  witnessed  of 
divine  power  and  eflScacy,  Simon  Magus  offered  them 
money  that  he  might  take  part  in  the  glorious  work. 
And  an  hundred  years   ago,  when   wondrous   revival 


HISTORY.  123 

scenes  were  witnessed  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, and  New  Jersey,  disorders  crept  in  that  marred 
and  blighted  the  beautiful  work  of  God.  And  during 
the  powerful  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  that  occurred 
during  the  founding  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  the 
wheat  and  the  tares  were  seen  springing  up  together. 
So  it  is,  and  so  it  will  be  in  all  the  imperfect  scenes  of 
time.  The  good  and  the  evil  dwell  together.  The  rose 
and  the  violet  are  found  side  by  side  with  the  deadly 
nightshade.  The  poison  ivy  is  found  clasping  to  the 
death  the  flowering  magnolia. 

The  summer  of  1831  was  a  harvest  season  in  the 
Presbytery.  God's  presence  was  most  sensibly  felt, 
and  his  power  most  signally  displayed.  Thus  it  is  re- 
corded, in  the  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion  sent 
up  to  Synod  :  "  Many  of  our  congregations,  through  the 
reviving  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  wear  an  aspect 
which  has  hitherto  been  new  to  them.  The  Lord  has 
poured  down  upon  them  the  influences  of  his  Spirit, 
quickening  his  own  people,  and  convincing  and  convert- 
ing the  ungodly.  The  churches  at  Meadville,  Erie, 
North  East,  Forks  of  French  Creek,  Fairview,  Spring- 
field, Salem,  and  Warren,  have  been  specially  favored. 
These  vines  have  produced  fruit,  some  thirty,  some 
sixty,  some  an  hundred  fold.  Other  churches  have 
been  quickened,  and  many  sinners  brought  to  inquire 
what  they  must  do  to  be  saved." 

"And  while  the  Presbytery  unite  in  blessing  and 
adoring  God,  that  through  the  special  influences  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  near  six  hundred  souls  have  been  added  to 
their  churches  within  the  last  year,  they  would  acknowl- 
edge their  unfaithfulness,  and  implore  the  continuance 
of  his  kind  regard  and  blessings." 

That  year  Meadville  reported  fifty-five  ;  Erie  seventy- 


124  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

five  ;  North  East,  sixty-nine  ;  Fairview,  twenty-seven  ; 
Mr.  Condit's  charge,  thirty  ;  Springfield,  eighty-two ; 
Salem,  Greenville,  and  Big  Bend,  forty-three  ;  Franklin 
and  Big  Sugar  Creek,  twenty-three;  Middlebrook, 
Beaver  Dam,  and  Union,  twenty-seven.  Warren  and 
Brokenstraw,  thirty -three.  This  was  the  largest  report 
that  was  made  by  any  Presbytery  to  the  Synod  that  year. 
And  it  is  doubtful  whether,  either  before  or  since,  there 
has  been  as  great  a  number  gathered  into  the  churches, 
in  one  year,  during  the  entire  history  of  the  Presbytery. 
So  that  the  year  1831  may  be  considered  the  great 
harvest  year  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery. 

At  the  meeting  in  September,  1831,  the  question  of 
baptism  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  Presbytery.  It  was 
reported  that  one  of  the  members  had  recently  baptized 
fourteen  or  fifteen  persons  by  immersion.  After  mature 
deliberation,  Presbytery  declared  their  "  unanimous 
opinion  that  this  practice  is  not  in  accordance  with  our 
standards,  and  is  altogether  inexpedient."  ^  From  the 
above  date,  Mr.  Anderson  gave  half  his  pastoral  labors 
to  the  congregation  of  Big  Sugar  Creek,  and  the  re- 
maining half  to  Franklin. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1832,  the  church  of  Harbor 
Creek,  in  Erie  County,  was  organized.  It  was  a  col- 
ony from  the  church  of  North  East. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1832,  Mr.  Alden  was  dismissed 
to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati. 
He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  sixteen  years, 
and  although  at  no  time  a  pastor,  yet  he  had  done  a 
noble  work  for  the  cause  of  education  and  Sabbath- 
schools.  He  had  also  performed  a  large  amount  of 
missionary  work,  and  retired  to  another  field  with  the 
respect  and  love  of  all  his  brethren. 
1  Min.  iii.  46. 


HISTORY.  125 

On  the  27th  day  of  June,  1832,  George  W.  Hampson 
(43)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  united 
con^reorations  of  Oil  Creek  and  Concord.  In  these  ser- 
vices  Mr.  Doolittle  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Eaton 
delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Anderson 
the  charge  to  the  people. 

The  year  1832,  being  the  year  in  which  the  Asiatic 
cholera  made  its  appearance  in  the  United  States,  Pres- 
bytery sent  down  to  the  congregations  the  following 
recommendation :  "  In  view  of  the  threatening  aspect 
of  Divine  Providence  toward  our  guilty  land,  particu- 
larly that  scourge  of  nations,  the  Asiatic  cholera,  which  ^ 
has  already  reached  our  country,  Wednesday,  the  11th 
of  July,  is  recommended  to  be  spent  as  a  day  of  humili- 
ation and  prayer."  ^ 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  June  28, 1832,  notice  was 
called  to  a  sermon,  published  by  Mr.  Doolittle,  upon  the 
words  "  To  every  man  according  to  his  several  ability." 
It  was  resolved  to  review  this  sermon  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  Presbytery.  Accordingly,  at  the  next  meeting, 
the  matter  was  brought  up,  and  the  following  order 
fixed  for  the  discussion  :  "  Each  member,  in  the  order 
of  the  roll,  shall  have  opportunity  of  stating  what  erro- 
neous doctrines,  if  any,  are  contained  in  the  discourse. 
If  errors  are  alleged,  they  shall  be  definitely  stated,  and 
the  part  of  the  discourse  in  which  they  are  contained 
pointed  out."  After  discussing  the  discourse  at  some 
length,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Eaton,  Cham- 
berlain, and  Elder  John  Lytic,  was  appointed  to  bring 
in  a  minute  on  the  subject.  The  committee  subse- 
quently reported  that  they  could  not  agree,  and  were 
discharged.  A  motion  was  then  made  to  postpone 
the  matter  indefinitely,  which  was  carried  by  a  majority 
of  one. 

1  Min.  iii.  59. 


126  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

"  Coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before."  Here 
was  the  beginning  of  differences  of  opinion  that  ere  long 
were  to  involve  the  Presbytery  in  trouble,  and  result  in 
changes  disastrous  to  the  peace  of  Zion. 

At  the  same  meeting,  Mr.  Doolittle,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation of  North  East.  This  was  on  the  13th  of 
September,  1832.  On  the  10th  of  April  following,  he 
was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Portage.  He  had 
found  a  home  at  Hudson,  Ohio,  and  thither  he  re- 
moved to  enter  upon  a  new  field  of  labor.  Both  his 
friends  and  himself  were  afterward  of  opinion  that  he 
made  a  mistake  in  removing  from  North  East.  His 
labors  had  been  abundantly  blessed  there  ;  he  had  many 
devoted  friends  there ;  yet  the  path  of  duty  to  him 
seemed  to  lead  elsewhere ;  he  was  a  man  of  decision, 
and  for  him  to  decide  was  to  act. 

On  the  12th  day  of  September,  1832,  Robert  Glenn 
(44),  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gations of  Mill  Creek  and  Amity.  In  these  services  Mr. 
McCready  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Tait  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Hassinger  the  charge 
to  the  people.  Mr.  Glenn  labored  in  these  churches 
one  third  of  his  time  in  each  ;  the  remaining  third  was 
given  to  Sandy  Lake,  although  he  was  never  installed 
there.  The  church  of  Sandy  Lake  was  not  really 
organized  until  October  3,  1835.  Mr.  Glenn  preached 
for  some  time  at  the  house  of  Theodore  Bailey,  and  in 
the  school-house  in  the  vicinity.  The  house  of  wor- 
ship was  not  erected  until  1846. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1833,  Morgan  D.  Morgans  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  had  been  a  preacher 
in  Wales  in  some  independent  branch  of  the  Church, 
and   had    given    satisfaction    as   to    his   experimental 


HISTORY.  127 

acquaintance  with  religion,  but  had  not  received  a  lib- 
eral education.  Against  this  action  Synod  entered  its 
protest.  Mr.  Morgans  did  not  prove  an  acceptable 
preacher,  and  being  about  to  remove  from  the  bounds, 
Presbytery  recalled  his  license  after  he  had  preached 
one  year.     He  subsequently  engaged  in  teaching. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1833,  Benjamin  J.  Wallace,^  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1833,  Mr.  Bushnell  was  released 
from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Mead- 
ville.  The  Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society  had 
been  organized,  having  its  centre  of  operations  at  Pitts- 
burgh ;  and  missionaries  were  called  for  to  go  to  India,  to 
Africa,  and  to  our  Western  Indians.  Mr.  Bushnell's 
ardent  missionary  spirit  impelled  him  to  devote  himself 
to  the  work,  and  after  much  thought  and  prayer  he  re- 
solved to  offer  himself  as  a  missionary  to  the  Indians. 
He  was  designated  as  a  laborer  amongst  the  Weas,  in 
Missouri,  but  did  not  sunder  his  connection  with  the 
Presbytery.  The  result  showed  that  he  had  overesti- 
mated his  strength  and  endurance.  After  struggling  for 
a  year  and  a  half,  he  resigned  and  returned  to  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis,  to  which  he  was  dis- 
missed on  the  3d  of  February,  1836,  having  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  ten  years. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1833,  James  G.  Wilson  (49), 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.     During  this  year 

1  Son  of  William  and  Eleanor  (McClay)  Wallace;  born  in  Erie, 
Pa.,  June  10,  1810.  Cadet  at  West  Point.  Studied  theology  at 
Princeton ;  licensed  by  Presbytery  of  Donegal.  Ordained  by  Presby- 
tery of  Muhlenburg;  Professor  of  Languages  in  Newark  College,  Dela- 
ware. Editor  Presbyterian  Quarterly  Reviev^ ;  also  of  American  Presby- 
terian. Died  of  neuralgia,  July  25,  1862,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of 
his  age.  —  Wilson's  Presbyterian  Historical  Almanac. 


128  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Mr.  Hassinger  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  Harmonsburg,  Evansburg,  and  North  Bank, 
in  Crawford  County. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1833,  William  A.  Adair 
(46),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford 
(Beaver),  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery, 
and  accepted  calls  from  the  congregations  of  North 
East  and  Harbor  Creek.  On  the  6th  day  of  the  fol- 
lowing November,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  this  charge.  In  these  services  Mr.  Eaton 
preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Anderson  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Chamberlain  to  the 
people.  At  this  meeting,  John  NcNair  (45),  a  licenti- 
ate of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery  and  ordained  with  Mr.  Adair,  as 
an  evangelist,  with  the  view  of  laboring  as  a  missionary 
in  Warren  County. 

On  this  occasion,  Presbytery  cordially  endorsed  the 
Western  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  resolved  to 
support  one  missionary  in  the  foreign  field.  It  was 
further  resolved,  that  Mr.  Bushnell  be  the  missionary 
to  be  supported  by  Presbytery.  After  Mr.  Bushnell 
returned  from  the  field,  Presbytery  still  resolved  to  con- 
tinue their  support  of  a  missionary.  At  this  meeting, 
Wattsburg  was  reported  and  enrolled  as  an  organized 
church. 

On  the  25th  of  June,  1834,  Mr.  Alexander  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Salem,  Green- 
ville, and  Big  Bend.  On  the  9th  day  of  the  following 
month  B.  J.  Wallace,  licentiate,  was  dismissed,  to  place 
himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Muhlen- 
burg ;  and  Mr.  Adair  released  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  congregation  of  Harbor  Creek. 

On  the  25th  of  June  in  this  year,  a  paper,  called  the 


HISTORY.  129 

"  Act  and  Testimony,"  drawn  up  by  a  number  of  the 
members  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  was  brought  to 
the  notice  of  Presbytery,  a  portion  of  it  read,  and  com- 
mitted to  a  committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Tait,  Hamp- 
son,  and  Alexander  Brown,  elder,  to  report  upon  at  the 
next  meeting  of  Presbytery. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  9th  of  October  following,  the 
committee  presented  the  following  report :  — 

"  The  circumstances  of  your  committee  being  so  dif- 
ferent as  to  location,  and  the  various  sources  of  informa- 
tion from  those  who  framed  the  '  Act  and  Testimony,' 
they  consider  it  inexpedient  for  them  to  express  an 
opinion  on  the  document,  taken  as  a  whole,  but  they 
freely  acknowledge  that  a  document,  framed  and  signed 
by  men  of  such  known  integrity  and  worth,  and  whose 
attachment  to  the  standards  and  doctrines  of  our  church 
is  highly  to  be  regarded,  they  would  therefore  recom- 
mend the  following  resolutions,  namely  :  — 

"  1.  That  this  Presbytery  do  solemnly  protest  against 
the  conduct  of  any  claiming  the  right  to  interpret  the 
doctrines  of  our  standards  differently  from  the  sense 
in  which  our  church  has  always  held  them,  or 
preaching  or  publishing  Arminian  or  Pelagian  errors, 
while  they  profess  to  adopt  and  approve  our  doctrine 
and  order,  and  retain  a  standing  in  our  church. 

"  2.  That  Presbytery  solemnly  protest  against  the 
following  errors,  namely,  our  relation  to  Adam,  etc., 
etc. 

"  3.  That  we  will  not  knowingly  countenance  such 
ministers,  elders,  editors,  or  teachers,  who  hold  or  propa- 
gate such  errors  as  are  referred  to. 

"  4.  That  we  protest  against  the  erection  of  Presby- 
teries or  Synods  on  the  elective  affinity  plan,  as  a  depar- 
ture from  our  form  of  government,  and  the  usages  of  our 
i) 


130  PKESB^TERY   OF    ERIE. 

church,  and  also  as  opening  a  wide  door  for  the  spread 
of  errors. 

"  5.  That  all  the  sessions  under  the  care  of  this  Pres- 
bytery take  order,  and  express  their  opinion,  on  the  said 
Act  and  Testimony." 

This  report  was  adopted  by  the  following  vote  : 
Samuel  Tait,  Johnston  Eaton,  Ira  Condit,  Peter  Has- 
singer,  James  Alexander,  G.  W.  Hampson,  Robert 
Glenn,  ministers  ;  and  elders  Alexander  Brown, 
Robert  Clark,  John  Melon,  W.  Beatty,  S.  Wade,  Wash- 
ington Tait,  and  Robert  Mann :  yeas,  14.  In  the 
negative,  Thomas  Anderson  and  Pierce  Chamberlain, 
ministers  ;  and  elders  John  McCord,  John  Reynolds, 
George  Reznor,  and  Lansing  Wetmore,  6.  Mr.  Eaton 
and  Elder  Alexander  Brown  were  appointed  to  attend 
the  Convention  called  by  the  signers  of  the  Act  and 
Testimony  at  Pittsburgh,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
state  of  the  church.  Here  was  another  indication  of 
the  struggle  that  was  coming  upon  the  church.  The 
low  mutterings  of  the  coming  storm  were  becoming 
portentous,  and  all  things  were  assuming  the  appearance 
of  danger. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1835,  Mr.  Alexander  was  dis- 
missed to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 
On  the  following  day,  Mr.  McCready  was  released  from 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Beaver 
Dam  and  Union,  in  Erie  County,  and  advised  to 
accept  a  call  from  that  of  Warren,  Pa.  On  the  15th  of 
April  following,  Mr.  Adair  accepted  a  call,  for  the  whole 
of  his  time,  from  the  congregation  of  North  East.  On 
the  same  day  Rev.  Nathaniel  West  (47),  a  foreign 
minister  formerly  connected  with  an  independent 
church  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  presented  a  certificate 
of  dismission  from  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadel- 


HISTORY.  131 

phia,  showing  that  he  had  been  taken  on  trial  as  a 
foreign  minister.  Mr.  West  was  accordingly  received 
on  further  trials  as  a  foreign  minister. 

The  narrative  of  the  state  of  religion,  that  is  re- 
corded during  the  year  1834-35,  does  not  indicate  that 
there  was  much  of  the  spirit  of  revival  in  the  Pres- 
bytery. Good  attendance  is  reported,  as  being  paid  to 
catechetical  instruction  and  Sunday-school  effort ;  but 
no  general  revivals  of  religion. 

At  a  former  meeting  the  Presbytery  had  resolved  to 
support  Mr.  Bushnell  as  their  missionary  in  the  foreign 
field,  and  now  as  Mr.  Bushnell  had  retired  from  the 
work  on  account  of  feeble  health,  it  was  resolved  still 
to  continue  the  aid  of  Presbytery  to  the  Western  For- 
eign Missionary  Society. 

At  the  October  meeting  of  Presbytery,  it  was  "  Re- 
sdved,  That  the  members  of  this  Presbytery  give  their 
efficient  aid  in  circulating  and  procuring  signatures  to 
petitions  to  the  next  session  of  Congress  to  abolish 
slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia."  ^ 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1836,  Mr.  Hassinger  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of 
Evansburg,  Harmonsburg,  and  North  Bank.  At  the 
same  time,  the  organization  of  the  churches  of  Conneaut- 
ville  and  Sandy  Lake  was  reported.  At  this  meeting 
the  approval  by  Synod  of  the  action  of  Presbytery  in 
receiving  Mr.  West  as  a  member  of  Presbytery,  was  re- 
ported, and  Mr.  West's  name  was  placed  upon  the  roll. 

Mr.  McNair  (45)  was,  on  the  20th  of  April,  dismissed 
to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Vincennes. 
On  the  11th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  West  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Meadville.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  Rev.  Simeon  Peck  (48)  was  received  on 
1  Min.  iii.  122. 


182  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

certificate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo.  At  the 
same  time  Presbytery  approved  the  reorganization  of 
the  church  of  Warren,  Pa. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  of  the  same  year,  Mr.  Has- 
singer  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Washing- 
ton. At  this  meeting  Mr.  Chamberlain  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Waterford  and  Union. 
On  the  12th  day  of  October,  1836,  James  G.  Wilson  (49^, 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  Greenville  and  Salem.  In  these  services,  Mr. 
Anderson  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Tait  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  West  the  charge  to  the 
people.  At  the  same  time  the  name  of  the  church  at 
Elk  Creek,  in  Erie  County,  was  changed  to  Girard. 

The  report  of  a  convention  of  elders  at  Meadville 
having  been  laid  before  Presbytery,  was  approved,  and 
the  object  commended.  The  convention  seems  to  have 
been  composed  of  elders  from  Crawford  County,  and 
its  object  to  have  been  to  devise  means  to  promote  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  people  of  that  county. 

On  the  3d  day  of  February,  1836,  Mr.  Bushnell  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis.  On  the 
11th  day  of  January,  1837,  Robinson  S.  Lockwood 
(50),  a  licentiate  recently  received  from  the  Presbytery 
of  St.  Lawrence,  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  Girard.  In  these  services  Mr. 
West  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Eaton  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Lyon  the  charge  to  the 
people. 

The  matter  of  slavery  was  again  noticed,  by  the  adop- 
tion of  the  following  resolutions  :  — 

'*  1.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  ministers  of  this  Pres- 
bytery to  preach  against  the  sin  of  slave-holding. 

"  2.  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  each  of  the 


HISTORY.  133 

churches  under  our  care,  to  address  a  memorial  to  the 
next  General  Assembly,  imploring  that  body  to  use  all 
its  influence  for  the  expulsion  of  slavery  from  our 
church."  1 

The  organization  of  the  churches  of  McKean  and 
Cherrytree,  was  reported  April  11,  1837.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  Reuben  Lewis  (51),  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Blairsville,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery ;  and  on  the  same  day  Mr.  McCready  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Warren  ;  Mr. 
Hampson  was  also  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  congregation  of  Concord  in  Venango  County,  and 
was  permitted  to  labor  for  two  thirds  of  his  time  at  Oil 
Creek. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved,  that  for  members 
of  the  church  to  sign  petitions  for  the  licensing  of  tav- 
erns, is  wrong,  and  subjects  them  to  the  censure  of  the 
church. 

On  the  12th  day  of  September,  1837,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  care  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Franklin,  Pa.,  and  on  the  1st  of  November  fol- 
lowing Reuben  Lewis  (51),  a  licentiate,  who  had  been 
received  the  previous  year  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Blairsville,  was  ordained,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregation  of  Harbor  Creek.  In  these  services,  Mr. 
Lyon  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Adair  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Hampson  the  charge  to 
the  people. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1838,  Rev.  Wells  Bushnell 
(35),  who  had  formerly  been  a  member  of  Presbytery, 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis,  and 
on  the  following  day.  Rev.  William  Fuller  (52)  and 
Rev.  Charles  Danforth  (53)  were  received  from  the 
1  Min.  iii.  146. 


134  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 

Presbytery  of  Grand  River.  On  the  next  day  Mr. 
Adair  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
congregation  of  North  East.  On  the  same  day  John 
Van  Liew  Reynolds  (56)  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel.  On  the  26th  day  of  June  following,  Mr.  West 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Meadville. 

This  chapter  closes  with  dark  forebodings  of  trouble. 
Clouds  had  been  gathering  that  foretokened  a  storm  of 
greater  magnitude  than  any  that  had  yet  swept  over  the 
church.  Differences  had  sprung  up  that  could  not  be 
reconciled.  In  many  cases  these  differences  were 
really  serious  and  important ;  in  some  perhaps  wholly 
imaginary.  But  the  brethren  were  divided  either  in 
sentiment  or  in  heart,  or  in  both,  and  the  consequences 
were  most  lamentable.  The  hearts  of  good  men  on 
either  side  were  ready  to  fail  them  for  fear;  for  schism 
if  not  open  revolution  seemed  unavoidable;  and  the 
church,  that  had  for  so  many  years  been  expanding  and 
prospering  and  overshadowing  the  land  with  its  blessed 
influences,  bid  fair  to  be  shorn  of  its  splendor,  and 
weakened  in  its  influence. 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE    GREAT    DIVISION. 

1837-1838. 

The  shock  came  at  last.  The  storm  burst  forth 
in  its  fury,  leaving  for  a  time  little  but  desolation 
in  its  path  :  alienated  hearts,  sundered  ties,  riven 
churches,  and  the  exultation  of  the  foes  of  Zion.  The 
General  Assembly  of  1837  had  passed  resolutions 
declaring  certain  Synods  no  longer  portions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  dissolving  the  Third  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia.  With  reference  to  this  action, 
at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  September  12,  1837, 
the  following  resolution  was  passed  by  a  majority  of 
one :  '•  Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Presby- 
tery, the  act  of  the  late  General  Assembly,  which  dis- 
solved the  Third  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  without 
previous  citation  or  notice,  was  unconstitutional,  and 
therefore  null  and  void."  ^  Yeas,  13.  Nays,  12. 
This  was  followed  by  another  resolution,  — 
^''Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Presbytery 
the  act  of  the  late  General  Assembly,  by  which  the  four 
Synods  of  Utica,  Geneva,  Genesee,  and  Western  Reserve 
were  declared  to  be  no  longer  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  without  previ- 
ous citation  or  notice,  is  unconstitutional,  and  therefore 

1  Min.  iii.  158. 


136  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

null  and  void."  This  resolution  was  also  decided  in  the 
affirmative,  by  a  vote  of  fifteen  to  ten.  The  ayes  and 
nays  were  as  follows  :  Ayes  :  Ministers,  Amos  Chase, 
Thomas  Anderson,  Robinson  S.  Lockwood,  Edson  Hart, 
George  W.  Hampson,  George  A.  Lyon,  and  William  A. 
Adair,  with  elders  Andrew  Bowman,  D.  H.  Chapman, 
William  Miller,  S.  Heimbaugh,  T.  Reid,  J.  Kinkead, 
George  Kellogg,  and  Samuel  Kingsbury  — 15. 

Noes :  Ministers,  Samuel  Tait,  Johnston  Eaton,  Ab- 
salom McCready,  and  James  G.  Wilson,  with  elders 
John  Hackney,  Eliab  Axtell,  James  Jagger,  William 
White,  James  McCracken,  and  Homer  Bailey  —  10.^ 

After  the  recess  the  following  complaint  and  appeal 
was  offered  by  Mr.  Tait  in  behalf  of  himself  and  oth- 
ers, and  directed  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes :  — 

"  Waeren,  (Pa.),  September  13, 1837. 

"  We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  protest  against  the  decisions  of  this  Presbytery  in 
declaring  the  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  unconstitu- 
tional, null,  and  void,  which  dissolved  the  Third  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  and  declared  the  Synods  of  the 
Western  Reserve,  Genesee,  Utica,  and  Geneva  no 
longer  a  part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  for  the  fol- 
lowing reasons,  namely  — 

"  1st.  Although  we  admit  that  Presbyteries  have  a 
right  to  complain,  and  petition  our  higher  courts  for  re- 
dress of  supposed  grievances,  yet  for  a  Presbytery  to 
declare  the  acts  of  our  General  Assembly  null  and 
void,  we  deem  unconstitutional  and  disorderly. 

"  2d.  We  believe  that  these  acts  of  the  General  As- 
sembly were  the  only  means  left  to  correct  the  evils, 
and  restore  peace  and  purity  to  our  church. 

1  Min.  iii.  159. 160. 


HISTORY.  137 

*'  3d.  We  believe  the  General  Assembly,  acting  in  a 
legislative  capacity,  had  a  right  to  repeal  its  own  acts."  ^ 

This  complaint  was  signed  by  Samuel  Tait,  John- 
ston Eaton,  Absalom  McCready,  and  James  G.  Wil- 
son, ministers :  and  by  John  McCracken,  James  Jagger, 
John  Hackney,  and  Homer  Bailey,  elders. 

In  regard  to  these  resolutions  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 
burgh, in  reviewing  the  Records  of  Presbytery,  took  the 
following  exception : 

"  The  resolutions  recorded  on  the  pages  158  and  159 
of  the  Eecords,  whereby  the  acts  of  the  last  General 
Assembly,  in  reference  to  the  Third  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  Synods  of  Western  Reserve,  Utica, 
Geneva,  and  Genesee  are  declared  to  be  unconstitu- 
tional, null,  and  void,  are,  in  the  judgment  of  Synod, 
incorrect,  as  to  matter  of  fact. 

CHARLES  C.  BEATTY,  Moderator^ 
Pittsburgh,  October  25, 1837. 

This  was  the  state  of  affairs,  when  the  Presbytery 
met  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  on  the  26th  day  of  June,  1838. 
There  were  present  at  this  meeting,  the  following 
members :  Ministers,  Samuel  Tait,  Amos  Chase,  John- 
ston Eaton,  Bradford  Marcy,  Pierce  Chamberlain, 
Wells  Bushnell,  Absalom  McCready,  Thomas  Ander- 
son, Nathaniel  West,  George  A.  Lyon,  George  W. 
Hampson,  Robert  Glenn,  William  Fuller,  Charles  Dan- 
forth,  James  G.  Wilson,  Robinson  S.  Lockwood,  and 
Reuben  Lewis.  Elders  :  Alexander  Brown,  George  G. 
Foster,  John  Reynolds,  George  Reed,  James  McClan- 
ahan,  Cyrus  Mansfield,  Moses  Logan,  James  Gilleland, 
Noah  Town,  Robert  Stockton,  David  Brackenridge, 
John  C.  Robinson,  John  Wilson,  John  Hackney,  Cal- 
vin Martin,  James  Campbell,  D.  H.  Chapman,  Pros- 
1  Min.  iii.  160,  161. 


138  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

per  A.  Booth,  James  Smedley,  George  Kellogg,  Sam- 
uel Kingsbury,  Francis  Gray,  John  Carson,  John  N. 
Miller,  J.  Fritz,  John  McCracken,  and  Ninian  Irwin. 

It  was  known  that  the  late  General  Assembly  had  di- 
vided, and  that  the  Commissioners  from  this  Presbytery, 
Rev.  Pierce  Chamberlain  and  Elder  George  Kellogg, 
had  given  in  their  adherence  to  the  Assembly  known 
popularly  as  "  The  Other  Branch,"  and  had  identified 
themselves  with  it ;  and  the  consideration  of  this  matter 
was  to  be  the  great  question  before  the  Presbytery. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  Presbytery,  the  fol- 
lowing preamble  and  resolution  were  offered  by  Mr. 
McCready  :  "  Whereas,  it  is  a  time  of  great  conflict, 
corruption,  and  difficulty  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  and  whereas  the  General  Assemblies 
of  1837  and  1838  have  entered  upon  reform  measures, 
agreeably  to  our  standards,  to  promote  the  peace,  purity, 
and  orthodoxy  of  said  church,  which  have  hitherto 
proved  successful ;  and  whereas,  they  enjoin  it  upon 
all  the  Presbyteries  under  their  care  to  pursue  the 
same  measures  of  reform,  in  all  their  boundaries ;  and 
whereas  it  is  publicly  reported  that  Pierce  Chamberlain 
and  George  Kellogg,  our  delegates  to  the  last  Assem- 
bly, after  giving  in  their  commissions  to  the  Assembly, 
did  absent  themselves  from  the  true  Assembly,  and 
associate  themselves  with  a  number  unknown  to  the 
General  Assembly  to  form  a  new  Assembly,  and  are  offi- 
cially reported  as  being  absent  from  the  true  Assembly 
without  cause  :  Therefore  — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  roll  be  now  called  to  take  proper 
order  in  regard  to  the  Commissioners  for  neglect  of 
duty  according  to  the  resolution  of  the  last  Assembly  ; 
and  also  that  the  members  of  this  Presbytery  be  now 
called,  individually,  to  sustain  the  reform  measures  of 


HISTORY.  139 

the  General  Assemblies  of  1837   and  1838  ;  and  that 
the  answers  be  given  yea  or  nay."  ^ 

The  consideration  of  this  paper  was  made  the  order 
of  the  day  for  the  next  morning. 

The  next  morning  "  The  order  of  the  day  was  taken 
up,  and  after  some  discussion  was  postponed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  hearing  the  report  of  our  Commissioners  to  the 
General  Assembly,  who  being  called  upon  informed 
Presbytery  that  they  gave  in  their  commissions  to  the 
General  Assembly,  but  that  before  the  roll  was  com- 
pleted they  united  with  a  number  of  ministers  and  el- 
ders, in  organizing  another  body,  calling  itself  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States,  and  which  our  Commissioners  acknowledged  as 
the  lawful  General  Assembly ;  after  which  they  with- 
drew :  whereupon,  it  was  moved  that  their  conduct  be 
approved. 

"  And  while  this  motion  was  under  discussion,  a  post- 
ponement of  it  was  moved,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  up 
a  resolution,  the  object  of  which  was  to  refer  the  whole 
matter  to  Synod.  During  the  pending  of  these  mo- 
tions, the  whole  subject  of  the  constitutionality  of  the 
two  Assemblies  was  fully  discussed;  after  which  the 
motion  of  postponement  was  taken  by  calling  the  roll."  ^ 

The  following  was  the  result  of  the  vote :  Amos 
Chase,  Bradford  Marcy,  Nathaniel  West,  Pierce  Cham- 
berlain, Thomas  Anderson,  George  A.  Lyon,  George 
W.  Hampson,  Robinson  S.  Lockwood,  William  Fuller, 
and  Charles  Danforth,  ministers,  with  John  Reynolds, 
James  McClanahan,  Cyrus  Mansfield,  Noah  Town,  Rob- 
ert Stockton,  David  Brackenridge,  John  Wilson,  Calvin 
Martin,  James  Campbell,  David  H.  Chapman,  James 
Smedley,  George  Kellogg,  Samuel  Kingsbury,  Francis 
1  Min.  iv.  21-23.  2  Min.  iv.  24,  25, 


140  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

Gray,  John  Carson,  J.  N.  Miller,  J.  Fritz,  and  Niniai^ 
Irwin,  elders,  voted  in  the  affirmative,  being  ten  minis- 
ters and  eighteen  elders  —  twenty-eight  in  all. 

In  the  negative  there  were  seven  ministers,  namely, 
Samuel  Tait,  Johnston  Eaton,  "Wells  Bushnell,  Absalom 
McCready,  Robert  Glenn,  James  G.  Wilson,  and  Reu- 
ben Lewis,  with  nine  elders,  namely,  George  Reed, 
Moses  Logan,  James  Gilleland,  George  G.  Foster,  Al- 
exander Brown,  John  McCracken,  John  C.  Robinson, 
Prosper  A.  Booth,  and  John  Hackney,  sixteen  in  all.^ 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  actual  vote  was  not  on  the 
merits  of  the  case,  but  on  the  reference  of  the  whole 
matter  to  Synod.  It  is  also  obvious,  however,  that  the 
majority  of  Presbytery  were  in  opposition  to  the  re- 
form measures  of  the  late  General  Assembly.  The 
minority,  seeing  that  there  was  now  no  other  resource, 
quietly  withdrew  to  another  house,  and  continued  the 
business  of  Presbytery,  according  to  the  order  of  the 
General  Assembly  adapted  to  circumstances  like  the 
present.  This  order  is  in  the  following  words :  "  In  case 
the  majority  of  any  Presbytery  shall  refuse  or  neglect 
to  take  proper  order  in  regard  to  its  seceding  Commis- 
sioners, or  shall  approve  their  conduct,  or  adhere  to 
the  new  sect  they  have  created,  or  shall  decline,  or  fail  to 
adhere  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America,  upon  the  basis  of  1837  and  1838,  for  the 
reform  of  the  Church,  then,  and  in  that  case,  the  minor- 
ity of  said  Presbytery  shall  be  held  and  considered  to 
be  the  true  Presbytery,  and  shall  continue  the  succes- 
sion of  the  Presbytery  by  its  name  and  style,  and  from 
the  rendition  of  the  erroneous  and  schismatical  decision, 
which  is  the  test  in  the  case,  be  the  Presbytery  ;  and  if 
sufficiently  numerous  to  perform  Presbyterial  acts,  shall 

1  Min.  iv.  25,  26. 


HISTORY.  141 

go  forward  with  all  the  proper  acts  and  functions  of  the 
Presbytery."  ^ 

The  Moderator  and  Stated  Clerk  being  among  the 
minority,  the  Presbytery  was  already  organized,  and 
lacked  but  a  temporary  clerk  to  proceed  with  its  regu- 
lar business.  The  Records  of  Presbytery  also  re- 
mained in  the  keeping  of  the  minority. 

Two  ruling  elders,  David  Brackenridge  and  Robert 
Stockton,  who  had  voted  with  the  majority,  appeared 
before  Presbytery  and  declared  their  approval  of  the 
reform  measures  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  re- 
quested seats  in  Presbytery,  which  request  was  granted. 
The  conduct  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  General  As- 
sembly was  then  formally  disapproved. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the   Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
several  members  of   the   majority  of   Presbytery  ap- 
peared and  claimed  seats.      Those  who  thus  claimed 
seats,  were :  ministers  George  W.  Hampson,  Nathaniel 
West,  and  William   A.  Adair ;    elders  John   McCord 
and  Samuel  Kingsbury.     Synod  refused  to  admit  them 
to  seats,  and  their  case  was  referred  to  a  committee  con- 
sisting  of   Rev.    Drs.   David   Elliott   and    Charles    C. 
Beatty,  and  Rev.  T.  D.  Baird,  to  consider  and  report 
thereon.     These  brethren  were  fully  heard  in  regard  to 
their  claim.     The  committee  reported  adversely  to  their 
claim,  which  report  was  adopted.    A  protest  against  the 
decision  of  the   Synod  was  presented,  signed  by  Rev. 
David   H.  Riddle,  D.  D.,   Rev.  Aaron  Williams,  and 
elders  John  Herron,  Richard  Edwards,  John  Wright, 
and  Matthew  F.  Champlin.    A  committee  consisting  of 
Dr.  Elliott,  Rev.  William  Jeffrey,  and  Rev.  James  Her- 
vey,  was  appointed  to  answer  the  protest.     This  com- 
mittee presented  a  long  paper,  which  was  adopted,  as 
the  answer  of  Synod. 

1  Baird's  Digest,  758. 


142  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

The  other  branch  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  has  en- 
joyed a  good  degree  of  prosperity.  After  occupying 
the  same  territory  substantially  as  before  the  division, 
for  a  few  years,  their  Presbytery  was  divided  by  an  act 
of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  into  two  Presbyteries. 
This  division  was  ordered  on  the  25th  of  October,  1842. 
All  the  ministers  and  churches  within  the  County  of 
Erie,  were  to  be  considered  as  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
and  all  the  ministers  and  churches  outside  the  County 
of  Erie  were  to  be  constituted  into  a  Presbytery,  to  be 
called  the  Presbytery  of  Meadville.  This  new  Pres- 
bytery of  Meadville  consisted  of  six  ministers,  four 
of  whom  had  been  members  of  the  old  Presbytery  of 
Erie. 

These  two  Presbyteries,  together  with  one  that  had 
been  organized  in  the  region  of  Pittsburgh,  and  called 
Pittsburgh,  constituted  the  Synod  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FROM    THE     GREAT    DIVISION    TO    THE    PRESENT. 

1838-1867. 

The  storm  had  come  and  gone.  The  noise  and  the 
strife  were  over.  But  the  consequences  remained. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  was  a  sad  and  pain- 
ful one.  The  officers  and  the  records  were  there,  but 
brethren  beloved  and  respected  were  absent.  Those 
present  looked  around  to  see  who  were  present  and  who 
were  absent.  It  was  like  the  meeting  of  -^neas  and 
his  comrades  after  the  storm  that  Juno's  wrath  had 
excited  ;  counting  the  ships  that  were  safe,  and  lament- 
ing over  those  that  had  been  stranded  on  the  great 
deep.  Here  were  fast  friends  for  years,  separated  for- 
ever upon  earth.  Brethren  who  had  taken  sweet  coun- 
sel together,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in  com- 
pany, who  had  labored  and  wept  and  prayed  together, 
and  whose  sympathies  had  been  in  common  for  nearly 
a  lifetime,  were  to  meet  no  more  together.  Henceforth 
they  were  to  pass  at  life's  meeting-places,  like  ships 
upon  the  ocean,  with  nought  but  the  ordinary  signal  of 
recognition,  bringing  up  the  love  and  esteem  many  of 
them  felt  for  each  other  in  the  secret  chambers  of  their 
own  hearts. 

But  like  ^neas  of  old  in  another  respect,  they 
girded  themselves  for  new  labors  and  new  perils.  With 
sad  thoughts  at  the  division  of  the  Presbytery,  and  sep- 


144  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

aration  from  cherished  brethren,  they  prepared  to  gath- 
er up  the  fragments  of  what  remained,  and  go  forward 
with  the  labor  and  the  toil  as  best  they  might.  New 
churches  must  be  organized  as  new  fields  were  explored. 
Divisions  must  be  expected  in  churches  already  estab- 
lished. The  evil  consequences  of  these  divisions  must 
be  met,  and  the  injury  to  Zion  must,  as  far  as  possible, 
be  repaired. 

And  so  they  went  on,  the  two  divisions  ;  two  Presby- 
teries, bearing  the  same  name,  occupying  substantially 
the  same  territory,  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes  one 
in  design  and  one  in  faith  and  polity,  yet  separate  in 
organization  and  in  feeling ;  and  yet  withal  striving  to 
do  their  own  appropriate  work,  not  walking  together, 
nor  talking  together,  yet  dealing  only  in  charity,  and 
feeling,  if  not  expressing,  confidence  in  each  other's 
piety  and  zeal  in  the  Master's  cause.  It  was  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  contending  so  sharply  that  they  had  "  de- 
parted asunder  one  from  the  other,"  yet  both  striving  to 
do  the  Lord's  work. 

The  vote  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter  shows 
the  relative  numbers  of  the  two  Presbyteries.  The 
minority,  that  now  constituted  the  Presbytery  called 
by  way  of  distinction  "  Old  School,"  consisted  of  Sam- 
uel Tait,  Johnston  Eaton,  Wells  Bushnell,  Absalom 
McCready,  Robert  Glenn,  James  G.  Wilson,  Simeon 
Peck,  and  Reuben  Lewis. 

Of  the  congregations,  some  remained  entire  with  one 
division  and  some  with  another,  whilst  some  were  di- 
vided. In  many  cases  these  divisions  were  most  disas- 
trous to  the  congregations,  weakening  and  disheartening 
them  and  rendering  them  unable  to  support  the  gospel. 
Of  those  remaining  entire,  with  the  Old  School 
branch,  were     Fairview,  Fairfield,  Georgetown,   Cool 


HISTORY.  145 

Spring,  Franklin,  Big  Sugar  Creek,  Mill  Creek,  Har- 

monsburg,  Evansburg,  Salem,  Greenville,  Sugar  Grove, 
Concord,  Deerfield,  Warren,  Amity,  Irvine,  and  Big 
Bend.  Of  those  remaining  entire  with  the  other 
branch,  were  Erie,  North  East,  Springfield,  Girard, 
Middlebrook,  Beaver  Dam,  Union,  McKean,  Center- 
ville,  Oil  Creek,  Pine  Grove,  Cherrytree,  Randolph. 
Of  those  divided  were,  Meadville,  Mercer,  Harbor 
Creek,  Washington,  Gravel  Run. 

In  the  division  of  Presbytery,  there  was  no  property 
held  by  the  Presbytery  directly  that  was  calculated  to 
bring  the  constitutionality  of  either  body  before  the 
civil  courts ;  so  that  happily,  for  the  present,  the  au- 
thority of  Cgesar  was  not  invoked,  and  each  branch 
pursued  its  own  course  in  comparative  peace  and  quiet- 
ness. There  was  not  much  sociability  between  the 
members  of  the  different  Presbyteries,  who  had  once 
been  on  the  kindest  terms  of  fellowship,  yet  there  was 
nothing  like  warfare.  They  agreed  to  differ,  and  whilst 
in  their  hearts  they  respected  and  loved  each  other, 
there  was  no  demonstration  of  this  feeling  —  it  was 
buried  up  amongst  the  sacred  things  of  the  past. 

On  the  27th  of  June,  1838,  Mr.  McCready  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Warren,  Pa.,  and  on  the  same  day,  David  Waggoner 
(54),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  accepted  calls  from 
the  congregations  of  Georgetown  and  Fairfield. 

On  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  William  McMichael  ^ 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

On  the  11th  of  July  following,  Daniel  Waggoner 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of 

1  Transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion.   Pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Richland  and  Rockland,  in  Venango  County,  Pa. 
10 


146  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Georgetown  and  Fairfield,  dividing  his  time  equally  be- 
tween them.  In  these  services  Mr.  Bushnell  preached 
the  sermon,  Mr.  McCready  delivered  the  charge  to  the 
pastor,  and  Mr.  Glenn  the  charge  to  the  people. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  1839,  Rev.  Daniel  Washburn 

(55)  was  received  on  certificate  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Beaver,  and  Rev.  Wells  Bushnell  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver. 

At  this  time  a  committee  was  appointed  to  report 
what  action  should  be  taken  in  regard  to  persons  with- 
drawing themselves  from  the  churches  to  connect  with 
churches  of  the  other  branch.  This  committee  reported 
recommending  that  when  such  withdrawals  are  ascer- 
tained, a  simple  record  be  made  of  the  fact  in  the 
sessional  records,  and  no  further  action  be  taken. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1839,  Mr.  McCready  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Neshannock,  which 
had  been  set  over  from  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver.  On 
the  same  day,  Mr.  Peck  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  and  Edmund  McKinney  (57),  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  received  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery. 

On  the  15th  of  October  of  this  year,  Cyrus  Dickson 
(58)  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

On  the  13th  of  November,  John  Van  Liew  Reynolds 

(56)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Meadville,  and  at  the  same  time  Edmund 
McKinney  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  In  these 
services  Mr.  McCready  preached  the  sermon,  Mr. 
Tait  delivered  the  charge  to  the  ministers,  and  Mr. 
Eaton  delivered  the  charge  to  the  congregation. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1840,  Cyrus  Dickson  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Franklin  and  Sugar  Creek,  half  his  time  at  each.     In 


HISTORY.  147 

these  services,  Mr.  Eaton  preached  the  sermon,  Mr. 
McCready  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
son the  charge  to  the  congregation. 

On  the  9th  of  September  following,  Mr.  Lewis  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  On  the  27th  of 
January,  1841,  Edward  S.  Blake  (59),  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  14th  of  April  following, 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of 
Gravel  Run  and  Evansburg.  In  these  services,  Mr. 
Waggoner  preached,  Mr.  Eaton  delivered  the  charge 
to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  McCready  the  charge  to  the 
people.  On  the  same  day  Joseph  T.  Smith  (61)  was 
licensed  lo  preach  the  gospel. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1841,  Rev.  Hiram  Eddy  (60), 
of  the  Congregational  Association  of  Western  New 
York,  was  received  as  a  member  of  Presbytery.  On 
the  15th  of  September  following,  Daniel  Washburn  and 
Edmund  Mc Kinney  were  dismissed  from  Presbytery, 
the  former  to  the  Presbytery  of  Wooster,  and  the  latter 
to  Carlisle.  Mr.  Blake  was  also  released  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Gravel  Run 
and  Evansburg,  on  account  of  feeble  health. 

About  this  time  a  zealous  effort  was  made  by  Presby- 
tery to  seek  out  and  encourage  pious  and  hopeful  young 
men  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  gospel  ministry.  It 
was  made  the  direct  duty  of  each  member  of  Presby- 
tery to  give  attention  to  this  matter ;  although  the  re- 
sult does  not  seem  to  have  been  encouraging. 

The  matter  of  missionary  effort  within  its  own 
bounds  was  during  this  year  pressed  upon  the  churches. 
In  January,  1842,  Presbytery  resolved  to  sustain  a  mis- 
sionary in  its  vacant  churches. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  churches  were  all  enjoined 


148  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

to  unite  in  memorializing  Congress  for  the  better  ob- 
servance of  the  Sabbath. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  William  McMichael,  a  licentiate 
under  our  care,  was  dismissed  to  put  himself  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion.  On  the  following 
day,  Joseph  T.  Smith  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Mercer.  In  these  services 
Mr.  Reynolds  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Dickson  de- 
livered the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Waggoner  the 
charge  to  the  people.  In  this  congregation  Mr.  Smith 
had  been  born  and  raised,  all  his  associations  were  con- 
nected with  it,  and  his  father  was  a  member  of  the  ses- 
sion. On  the  same  day  Mr.  Wilson  was  released  from 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Greenville. 

Sometime  during  the  month  of  May  of  this  year,  the 
church  of  Mount  Pleasant  was  organized.  On  the  28th 
of  June,  .James  Coulter  (62),  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany,  and  Henry  Webber  (63),  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown,  were  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery.  On  the  14th  of  Septem- 
ber following,  Mr.  Coulter  was  ordained  and  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Concord  and  Deer- 
field  ;  at  the  former,  one  half  his  time,  and  at  the  latter, 
one  fourth,  leaving  a  remaining  fourth  for  missionary 
labor.  In  these  services  Mr.  Reynolds  preached,  Mr. 
Dickson  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr. 
Waggoner  the  charge  to  the  people.  On  the  same  day, 
Alexander  Cunningham  (Q5)  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel.  On  the  next  day,  John  H.  Townley,^  a 
licentiate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Eliza- 
bethtown, was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1843,  Henry  Webber  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Green- 

1  Returned  soon  after  to  New  Jersey.  Pastor  of  the  church  of 
Hacketstown,  N.  J.     Since  deceased.  * 


HISTORY.  149 

ville.  Mr.  Glenn  preached  on  the  occasion,  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Dick- 
son the  charge  to  the  people.  The  name  of  the  church 
of  Big  Bend  was  stricken  from  the  roll,  the  church 
having  become  extinct.  Mr.  Hart  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Muhlenburg.  On  the  9th  of  Au- 
gust, James  W.  Dickey  (64),  a  licentiate  of  the  Second 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  was  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery.  In  September  of  this  year,  Mr. 
Wilson  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Cool 
Spring.  On  the  4th  day  of  October,  Mr.  Dickey  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations 
of  Conneautville,  Harmonsburg,  and  Evansburg.  Mr. 
Dickson  preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Coulter  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Waggoner  the  charge 
to  the  people.  On  the  same  day,  John  Limber  (66) 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

On  the  5th  day  of  October,  Mr.  Cunningham  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Gravel  Run  and  Washington.  Mr.  Reynolds  preached 
the  sermon,  Mr.  Smith  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pas- 
tor, and  Mr.  Wilson  the  charge  to  the  people.  At  the 
same  time  Lemuel  G.  Olmstead  (73),  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery.  In  April  of  this  year  the  church  of  Irvine 
was  organized. 

In  April,  1844,  Presbytery  petitioned  the  General 
Assembly  to  devise  some  means  to  purge  the  church 
of  "the  enormous  evil  of  slavery."  On  the  16th  of 
October,  of  the  same  year,  John  Limber  was  ordained 
as  an  evangelist,  with  the  view  of  laboring  amongst  the 
Indians.  On  the  22d  of  January,  1845,  Mr.  Webber 
was  dismissed  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery 
of  Beaver.     On  the  12th  of  February  following,  an 


150  PRESBYTERY    OF    ERIE. 

overture  was  sent  to  the  Presbytery  of  Meadville,  of  the 
other  branch,  with  reference  to  a  union  of  the  Presby- 
teries. This  overture  was  replied  to  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Meadville,  in  a  kind  and  conciliatory  manner,  ex- 
pressing a  wish  for  reunion,  yet  expressing  doubts 
whether  the  time  had  fully  come  for  such  reunion. 
They  also  suggested  that  the  practice  of  some  of  the 
results  of  union  should  be  first  brought  to  bear,  such  as 
inter-communion,  exchange  of  pulpits,  and  other  mutual 
labors.  This  reply  is  noticed  on  the  minutes,  with  the 
recommendation  that  the  suggestions  in  it  be  carried 
out,  that  ministers  and  members  use  their  discretion  in 
regard  to  occasional  inter-communion. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  Mr.  Eddy  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo  City.  At  this  meeting  the 
organization  of  the  church  of  Sturgeonville  was  re- 
ported, as  a  colony  from  the  church  of  Fairview.  On 
the  22d  of  October,  John  M.  Smith  (67),  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio,  and  Alexander  Boyd  (68),  formerly  a 
minister  in  the  Associate  Reformed  Church,  were  re- 
ceived as  members  of  Presbytery,  and  at  the  same  time 
an  elaborate  paper  was  passed  on  the  subject  of  slavery, 
bearing  its  testimony  against  slavery,  dissenting  against 
the  fanaticism  of  men.  North  and  South,  in  their  war 
against  the  church  of  God,  hoping  for  the  time  when 
this  great  evil  shall  be  removed  from  the  country,  and 
declaring  themselves  free  from  all  participation  in  the 
crime  of  oppression. 

Mr.  Dickson  was  permitted  to  give  the  whole  of  his 
labors  to  the  congregation  of  Franklin,  and  Sugar 
Creek  was  declared  vacant.  At  the  same  time  Mr. 
Boyd  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville. 

During  the  year  1846,  there  were  not  many  changes 
in  the  Presbytery.     Peace  and  quietness  reigned,  and 


HISTORY.  151 

prosperity  prevailed,  although  there  was  no  special  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit.  On  the  28th  of  January, 
Mr.  Smith  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Warren ;  and  on  the  same  day  Miles  T.  Merwin  (69), 
a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was  re- 
ceived under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  24th 
of  June  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church 
of  Irvine.  On  the  22d  of  April  Mr.  Coulter  was  re- 
leased from  the  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Concord 
and  Deerfield.  On  the  same  day  Rev.  John  Matthews 
(22),  who  had  formerly  been  a  member  of  Presbytery, 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Coshocton.  On 
the  26th  of  August,  Mr.  Dickey  was  released  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Harmonsburg 
and  Conneautville,  and  at  the  following  meeting,  from 
that  of  Evansburg ;  and  on  the  28th  day  of  October, 
John  F.  Kean,^  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Blairs- 
ville,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery. 

During  the  year  1847  two  ministers  were  received 
into  the  Presbytery,  one  was  dismissed,  and  one  re- 
moved by  death.  On  the  23d  of  June,  Mr.  Matthews 
was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Saint  Louis,  and  on 
the  same  day,  John  K.  Cornyn  (70),  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Alleghany,  was  received  under  the  care 
of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  10th  of  August  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Girard,  Sturgeon- 
ville,  and  Harbor  Creek. 

On  the  17th  day  of  June,  Johnston  Eaton  (20),  the 
oldest  minister  then  on  the  roll,  departed  this  life.  He 
had  been  for  forty  years  and  upward  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Fairview,  and  had  spent  the  whole  of  his 
ministerial  life  in  the  pastoral  relation  to  that  church. 

1  Born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  Graduated  at  Jefferson  Col- 
lege and  Western  Theological  Seminary.    Died  December  20, 1846. 


152  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

On  the  10th  day  of  August,  Mr.  Dickey  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Richland,  and  on  the  same 
day  Mr.  Smith  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  congregation  of  Warren ;  and  on  the  27th  day 
of  October,  Lewis  W.  Williams  (71)  was  received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville. 

There  were  more  changes  in  the  year  1848.  On  the 
15th  of  March  Mr.  Smith  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Muhlenburg,  and  on  the  next  day  Samuel  J.  M. 
Eaton  (76)  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and 
Lemuel  P.  Bates  (72)  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Michigan.  Mr.  Dickson  was  also  released  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Franklin,  and 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Washington.  On  the 
20th  of  April  Mr.  Olmstead  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist, and  on  the  28th  of  June  Charles  V.  Struve  (74), 
a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  was  received  as  a 
member  of  Presbytery.  On  the  25th  of  October,  James 
H.  Callen  (75),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Wash- 
ington, was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery ; 
and  on  the  same  day  Mr.  Coulter  was  installed  as  pas- 
tor of  the  congregation  of  Sugar  Creek,  and  Mr.  Mer- 
win  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Huntington. 

In  the  year  1849,  there  was  one  death  in  the  ministry 
of  the  Presbytery,  —  that  of  Mr.  Struve,  that  occurred 
at  St.  Louis  in  October.  One  ordination,  that  of  S.  J. 
M.  Eaton  (76),  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Franklin 
and  Mount  Pleasant,  February  7.  On  the  18th  of 
April,  Mr.  J.  T.  Smith  was  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  congregation  of  Mercer,  and  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore.  On  the  26th  of  June, 
Mr.  Williams  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hun- 
tington, and  Mr.  John  M.  Smith  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio.    On  the  same  day,  Nathaniel  M.  Crane  (77)  was 


HISTORY.  153 

received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo.  Mr.  Crane 
had  been  a  missionary  to  India,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  American  Board,  and  had  done  most  excellent  ser- 
vice in  that  benighted  land.  Enervated  and  enfeebled 
by  the  climate,  he  had  returned  to  spend  such  days  as 
God  might  give  him  in  preaching  the  gospel.  Of  a 
meek  and  quiet  and  lovely  disposition,  he  seemed,  like 
the  evangelist  John,  to  be  always  leaning  upon  the  Mas- 
ter's bosom,  and  reflecting  the  quiet  expression  of  his 
countenance  in  his  daily  life. 

During  the  year  1850,  the  Presbytery  held  its  own  in 
point  of  numbers.  On  the  18th  of  Jiine,  Michael  A. 
Parkinson  (78),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio, 
was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the 
11th  of  September,  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  congregations  of  Concord  and  Deerfield,  the  former 
in  Venango,  and  the  latter  in  Warren  County,  Pa.  On 
the  same  day,  John  Sailor  (79)  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Pennsylvania,  of  the  other  branch.  On 
the  3d  of  April,  Mr.  Glenn  was  released  from  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  congregation  of  Amity,  and  on  the 
next  day,  Mr.  Cornyn  was  released  from  his  charge  of 
Girard,  Sturgeon ville,  and  Harbor  Creek.  On  the  19th 
of  June,  Mr.  Glenn  was  installed  as  pastor  of  Sugar 
Creek  for  half  his  time.  On  the  11th  of  September, 
Mr.  Bates  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Michigan, 
from  which  he  had  been  originally  received,  and  on  the 
same  day,  Mr.  Wilson  was  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Cool  Spring  and  Salem,  and  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Iowa.  • 

In  1851,  one  minister  was  dismissed  from  the  Presby- 
tery —  Mr.  Cornyn,  to  the  Presbytery  of  Wyoming, 
April  9  ;  and  one  received.  This  was  Robert  S.  Morton 
(80),  who  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver, 


154  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

June  10,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mercer 
on  the  10th  of  September. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  George  Wright  Zahniser  (84) 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel ;  and  on  the  same  day 
William  Willson  (81),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio,  was  received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery ;  and 
Alexander  Cunningham  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  congregation  of  Washington.  On  the  next 
day,  Mr.  Willson  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  congregations  of  Girard,  Sturgeonville,  and  Fairview. 

The  year  1852  presents  few  changes.  On  the  14th 
of  April  James  Young  ^  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel.  Mr.  Cunningham  was  released  from  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  Gravel  Run,  and  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany.  On  the  22d  of  June,  Mr.  Callen 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Greenville,  and 
John  Wesley  McCune  (82),  a  licentiate  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  received  and  ordained 
and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Cool 
Spring  and  Sandy  Lake.  Mr.  Coulter  was  installed  as 
pastor  over  the  congregations  of  Harmonsburg  and 
Conneautville  on  the  14th  of  September,  and  the  follow- 
ing day  over  that  of  Evansburg. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  Mr.  Morton  was  released 
from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of  Mercer, 
and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver ;  and  William 
McCuUough  (85)  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 

During  the  year  1853,  Presbytery  dismissed  two  of  its 
members,  and  received  an  addition  of  three.  On  the 
12th  of  January,  Mr.  Callen  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone.  On  the  4th  of  May,  Mr.  Wag- 
goner was  released    from  the  pastoral  charge   of  the 

1  Graduated  at  Washington  College,  Pa.,  and  Western  Theological 
Seminary ;  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Sydney. 


HISTORY.  155 

congregations  of  Georgetown  and  Fairfield,  and  Mr. 
Sailor  installed  at  Warren,  Pa.  On  the  7th  of  Septem- 
ber, David  Grier  (83)  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Wyoming,  and  George  W.  Zahniser  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Conneautville  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  William  McCullough  was  or- 
dained as  an  evangelist ;  and  on  the  next  day  James 
Irvine  Smith  (87)  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
On  the  22d  of  June,  Robert  F.  Sample  (86),  a  licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  18th  of  Oc- 
tober, ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gation of  Mercer.  On  the  20th  of  October,  Mr.  Parkin- 
son was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  con- 
gregations of  Concord  and  Deerfield,  and  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville ;  at  the  same  time  Mr. 
Young,  licentiate,  was  dismissed,  to  put  himself  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Greenbrier. 

In  the  year  1854,  two  new  churches  were  enrolled : 
Waterloo,  in  Venango  County,  with  a  membership  of 
twenty,  and  two  elders,  was  organized  on  the  8th  of  March; 
and  Greenfield,  in  Crawford  County,  on  the  22d  of  June, 
with  eleven  members  and  two  elders.  On  the  18th  of 
January,  Mr.  Dickey  (64),  who  had  formerly  been  a 
member  of  Presbytery,  was  received  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Richland,  and  on  the  19th  of  April,  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Gravel  Run  and  Wash- 
ington. On  the  18th  of  January,  Mr.  Waggoner  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  Mr.  Grier  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Greenville,  and 
William  J.  Alexander  (89),  a  member  of  the  church  of 
Mercer,  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  On  the  27th  of 
June,  Mr.  Crane  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Clarion ;   and  on  the  25th  of  September,  James  Irvine 


156  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Smith  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist,  with  the  view  of 
laboring  as  a  missionary  in  the  region  of  Lake  Superior. 

In  1855,  the  usual  changes  took  place,  pastoral  rela- 
tions formed,  and  others  broken  up ;  members  received 
and  others  dismissed.  On  the  7th  of  February,  Mr. 
McCune  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of 
Sandy  Lake,  and  gave  all  his  time  to  Cool  Spring.  On 
the  2d  of  May,  James  M.  Shields  (89),  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  was  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  29th  of  August,  ordained 
and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  George- 
town and  Fairfield.  On  the  2d  day  of  May,  Mr.  Will- 
son  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Girard, 
Fairview,  and  Sturgeonville  ;  and  Mr.  Eaton  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Mount  Pleasant,  giving  all  his  time 
to  Franklin.  On  the  28th  of  August,  Mr.  Sailor  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Joseph's,  of  the  other 
branch.  On  the  19th  of  December,  Mr.  Alexander  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Concord  and  Deerfield,  and  John  D.  Caldwell  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel.  On  the  28th  of  June,  Park  Church, 
Erie,  was  organized. 

In  1856,  there  were  fewer  changes  than  usual.  The 
church  of  Milledgeville  was  organized  ;  Mr.  Caldwell, 
licentiate,  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Dubuque 
on  the  7th  of  May.  On  the  same  day,  Mr.  Sample  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation 
of  Mercer,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle. 
On  the  13th  of  August,  Charles  A.  Behrends  (90),  a 
German  minister,  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  from 
the  United  Evangelical  Synod  of  North  America. 

During  the  year  1857,  there  were  still  fewer  changes, 
as  regards  the  reception  or  dismission  of  members. 
But  the   Presbytery,  during  the   year,  were  called  to 


HISTOPwY.  157 

lament  the  death  of  Robert  Glenn,  the  oldest  minister 
on  the  roll.  He  was  not  old  in  years,  yet  he  had  been 
a  faithful  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  He  died 
whilst  yet  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mill  Creek,  where  he 
had  been  ordained  on  the  12th  of  September,  1832.  He 
died  with  the  harness  on,  trembling  as  a  sinner,  yet  re- 
joicing and  triumphing  as  a  Christian,  in  the  grace  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  death  took  place  on  the 
6th  of  September,  1857,  after  having  preached  the  gos- 
pel for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  leaving  behind  him 
a  record  of  piety  and  Christian  consistency  that  is  far 
more  valuable  than  that  of  the  heroes  and  conquerors, 
whose  deeds  are  chronicled  in  story  and  in  song. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  William  M.  Blackburn  (91) 
was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Lake,  and  on  the 
25th  of  May,  installed  as  the  first  pastor  of  Park 
Church,  Erie.  On  the  7th  of  January,  Mr.  Eaton  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation 
of  Franklin,  but  continued  as  a  stated  supply,  and  Mr. 
Alexander  from  that  of  Concord  and  Deerfield.  On  the 
29th  of  April,  John  Ross  Findley  (92)  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Sydney,  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  Mercer ;  and  the  name  of  Charles 
A.  Behrends  stricken  from  the  roll,  and  on  the  26th  of 
September  Mr.  Willson  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Kansas. 

During  the  year  1858,  there  were  few  changes,  but  it 
was  a  year  of  rich  mercy  and  blessing  to  many  of  the 
churches.  The  spirit  was  poured  out  in  many  places, 
reminding  the  attentive  reader  of  the  early  years  of  the 
history  of  Presbytery.  In  the  narrative  of  this  year 
we  read :  "  Sinners,  not  by  twos  and  threes,  but  by 
scores,  have  been  hopefully  converted.  One  narrative 
(church)  reports  one  hundred  and  fifteen  precious  souls 


158  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

as  brought  to  Christ,  another  seventy-five,  another 
forty,  another  twenty-five,  another  twelve." 

On  the  13th  of  April,  Mr.  Alexander  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Washington.  Mr.  Coulter  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Harmonsburg 
and  Evansburg,  and  on  the  next  day  Ira  Miller  Con- 
dit  (95),  a  member  of  the  church  of  Georgetown,  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  During  this  year  the 
hearts  of  the  brethren  were  made  sad  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  McCullough,  who  went  to  rest  on  the  1st  day  of 
February.  He  was  anxious  to  labor,  yet  the  call  to  rest 
was  welcome  and  joyous. 

In  the  year  1859,  there  were  two  dismissions  from 
Presbytery,  and  three  ordinations.  On  the  13th  of 
April,  Mr.  Zahniser  was  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Conneautville  and  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Huntington  ;  and  on  the  same  day,  Mr.  Grier 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Greenville. 
On  the  next  day,  Mr.  Coulter  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany.  Also,  John  R.  Hamilton  (93),  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  and  John 
Dagg  Howey  (94),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Steubenville,  were  received  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery. On  the  15th  of  June,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Fair- 
view,  and  on  the  20th,  of  that  of  Sturgeonville.  Half 
his  time  was  employed  in  each  congregation.  On  the 
21st  of  September,  Mr.  Howey  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Mill  Creek 
and  Sugar  Creek  —  time  divided  equally.  On  the  24th 
of  the  same  month,  Mr.  Condit  was  ordained  as  an 
evangelist,  with  the  view  of  laboring  as  a  missionary  in 
China.  The  Presbytery  had  already  sent  two  of  its 
members  to  labor  as  missionaries  amongst  the  Western 


HISTORY.  159 

Indians,  but  Mr.  Condit  was  the  first  to  go  to  foreign 
lands.  The  occasion  of  his  ordination  was  one  of 
great  interest.  Rev.  E.  P.  Swift,  D.  D.,  by  invitation, 
preached  the  sermon,  Dr.  Reynolds  offered  the  ordain- 
ing prayer,  and  Mr.  Eaton  delivered  the  charge  to  the 
missionary. 

In  the  year  1860,  two  ordained  ministers  were  re- 
ceived into  the  Presbytery  and  one  dismissed.  One  licen- 
tiate was  received  and  one  candidate  licensed.  Rev. 
Anthony  Canon  Junkin  (96)  was  received  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Baltimore  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  on 
the  follomng  day,  Rev.  Huey  jSTewell  (97),  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Iowa.  On  the  same  day,  John  Gordon 
Condit  (100),  a  member  of  the  church  of  Fairfield,  and 
nephew  of  Rev.  Ira  Condit  (24),  one  of  the  fathers  of 
the  Presbytery,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  On 
the  26th  of  June,  George  Scott  (98),  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Washington,  was  received  under  the 
care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  next  day  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Greenfield 
and  Evansburg,  and  afterwards  of  Harmonsburg.  On 
the  27th  of  June,  Mr.  Grier  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle.  On  the  19th  of  June,  the  church 
of  Mount  Vernon,  a  colony  from  the  old  church  of 
Concord,  in  Venango  County,  was  organized.  This 
church  consisted  of  eleven  members  with  two  elders. 

In  1861  there  were  few  changes.  On  the  8th  of 
May,  Rev.  James  Hilliar  Spelman  (99)  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Hudson  of  the  other  branch. 
On  the  same  day,  John  Haskell  Sargent  (101),  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  26th  of  June, 
ordained  as  an  evangelist.  On  the  8th  of  May,  Robert 
Taylor  (102),  a  member  of  the  Mercer   County  Bar- 


160  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  on  the  13th  of 
November  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Warren,  Pa.  On  the  26th  of  June,  Mr. 
Condit  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  Both  Mr.  Con- 
dit  and  Mr.  Sargent  were  ordained  with  reference  to 
missionary  work  in  the  bounds  of  Presbytery.  On  the 
26th  of  June,  the  name  of  the  Fairview  church  was 
changed  to  Westminster.  Fairview  church  had  been 
gathered  by  Rev.  Johnston  Eaton,  and  was  one  of  the 
oldest  churches  on  the  roll  of  Presbytery.  But  the 
changes  of  the  times  had  placed  it  wholly  outside  of 
Fairview  Township,  and  the  name  was  consequently 
changed.  On  the  8th  of  April,  Mr.  J.  M.  Condit  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Canton,  China. 

It  was  during  this  year  that  the  Presbytery  first 
placed  upon  record  its  deliverance  on  the  state  of  the 
country,  in  connection  with  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
After  approving  of  the  conduct  of  its  commissioners  ^ 
to  the  General  Assembly,  in  sustaining  the  "Spring 
Resolutions,"  they  further  say :  "  Presbytery,  moreover, 
desires  to  express  its  hearty  concurrence  in  the  action 
adopted  by  the  General  Assembly,  declaring  it  to  be 
the  duty  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  loyally  to  support 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  in  its  present 
struggle,  regarding  said  action  as  being  consistent  with 
the  patriotic  devotion  to  the  principles  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty,  which  said  church  has  never  failed  to 
manifest,  and  which  said  government  is  so  well  and 
wisely  adapted,  as  its  organization  was  designed,  to 
secure. 

"  Looking  upon  the  present  conflict  as  being,  substan- 
tially, for  the  maintenance  and  preservation  of  what 
our  revolutionary  struggle  was  waged  to  establish  (for 

1  Rev.  S.  J.  M.  Eaton,  and  Elder  Elias  Alexander,  of  Mercer. 


HISTORY.  161 

the  success  of  the  present  rebellion  would  go  far,  we 
believe,  to  endanger  republican  institutions  themselves, 
by  destroying  confidence  in  them),  we  would  be  unfaith- 
ful to  our  noble  record  as  a  church,  if  now  we  should 
fail,  in  every  proper  way,  to  show  our  attachment  to 
those  institutions,  to  help  to  give  us  which,  its  ministers, 
ruling  elders,  and  members,  were  amongst  the  first  in 
offering  treasure  and  blood,  together  with  their  prayers 
to  the  God  who  giveth  the  victory  to  whom  He  will."  ^ 

In  1862  there  were  the  usual  changes.  On  the  10th 
of  June,  Mr.  Scott  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  congregations  of  Greenfield,  Evansburg,  and 
Harmonsburg,  and  Mr.  Junkin  installed  at  Greenville. 
On  the  same  day,  Newell  S.  Lowrie  (103),  a  licentiate 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Saltsburg,  w^as  received  under 
the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  27th  of  October, 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Conneautville  and  Harmonsburg,  At  the  same  time, 
James  Hervey  Gray  (104),  a  licentiate  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Alleghany  City,  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  the  preceding  day,  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist. On  the  26th  of  September,  Mr.  Taylor  was  re- 
leased from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Warren,  Pa.,  and 
dismissed  to  the  2d  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1863,  the  Presbytery  added  one  to  the  number  of 
its  ministers,  and  dismissed  three  to  other  Presbyteries. 
On  the  26th  of  September,  Rev.  William  Porter  Moore 
(106)  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion. 
On  the  15  th  of  April,  Rev.  William  T.  Hamilton,  D.  D,, 
(105),  was  restored  to  the  functions  of  the  ministry. 
On  the  23d  of  September,  Mr.  Sargent  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry.  On  the  26th  of 
September,  Mr.  Scott  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 

1  Min.  vi.  201,  202. 
11 


162  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

of  Steubenville,  and  on  the  2 2d  of  December,  Mr.  Black- 
burn was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Park  Church,  Erie,  and  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick.  On  the  20th  of  Octo- 
ber, the  second  church  of  Mercer  was  organized.  This 
was  a  colony  from  the  first  church  of  Mercer,  and  con- 
sisted of  forty-eight  members,  with  three  ruling  elders. 
During  the  year  18G4  there  was  a  slight  gain  in  the 
membership  of  Presbytery.  On  the  23d  of  February, 
Mr.  Shields  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  congregations  of  Georgetown  and  Fairfield,  and  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany  City.  On  the 
13th  of  April,  Rev.  George  Fairies  Cain  (107)  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  and  on  the  11th 
of  May,  installed  as  pastor  of  Park  Church,  Erie.  On 
the  loth  of  April,  Mr.  Spelman  was  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Washington.  On  the  12th  of  May,  Dr. 
Hamilton  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  War- 
ren, Pa.  On  the  13  th  of  April,  Mr.  J.  G.  Condit  was 
released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregation  of 
Sandy  Lake.  On  the  14th  of  June,  Rev.  William  M. 
Robinson  (108)  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Washington,  and  the  next  day  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregation  of  the  Second  Church,  Mercer.  On  the 
same  day,  Mr.  J.  R.  Hamilton  was  released  from  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Sturgeonville, 
Girard,  and  Westminster,  he  having  accepted  the  office 
of  chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  On  the 
same  day  Rev.  David  Waggoner  (54)  was  received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  and  on  the  24th  of  June  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Georgetown  for 
three  fourths  of  his  time,  and  on  the  1st  of  July  for  the 
remaining  fourth  as  pastor  of  Greenfield.  On  the  26th 
of  September,  Mr.  J.  G.  Condit  was  dismissed  to  the 


HISTORY.  163 

Presbytery  of  Fairfield,  and  on  the  13th  of  December, 
Luther  Martin  Belden  (109),  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery,  and  on  the  next  day  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Sturgeonville 
and  Westminster. 

In  the  year  1865,  delegates  were  appointed  to  the 
Presbyteries  of  the  other  branch,  Erie  and  Meadville, 
to  convey  the  fraternal  salutations  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  to  endeavor  to  inaugurate  a  more  friendly  and 
sociable  feeling  between  the  bodies.  The  delegate  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Meadville,  Dr.  Reynolds,  was  pre- 
vented by  ill  health  from  fulfilling  his  mission.  The 
delegate  to  the  Erie  Presbytery,  Mr.  Eaton,  met  with 
that  Presbytery,  was  kindly  and  affectionately  received, 
and  assured  of  the  fraternal  regard  of  the  brethren. 
A  delegate  was  appointed  to  return  the  compliment. 
This  delegate.  Rev.  William  Grassie,  met  with  the 
Presbytery,  and  expressed  the  kind  wishes  and  Christian 
salutations  of  his  brethren.  The  interchange  was  kind 
and  feeling,  and  was  regarded  as  the  harbinger  of  better 
things  to  come. 

On  the  26th  of  April  of  this  year,  Rev.  John  Rice 
(110)  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Saltsburg, 
and  Mr.  Howey  released  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  congregations  of  Sugar  Creek  and  Mill  Creek. 
On  the  29th  of  September,  Mr.  J.  R.  Hamilton  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Washington.  On  the  8th 
of  November,  Samuel  M.  Glenn,^  a  member  of  the 
church  of  Mill  Creek,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Mr.  Glenn  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Robert  Glenn  (44),  one 

1  Graduate  of  Jefferson  College;  "Western  Theological  Seminary. 
Dismissed  to  Presbytery  of  Columbus.  Pastor  of  the  Church  of 
Lithopolis. 


164  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

of  the  valued  members  of  Presbytery,  who  now  rested 
from  his  labors.  On  the  24th  of  September,  the  church 
of  Petroleum  Centre  was  organized.  This  church  con- 
sisted of  fourteen  members  with  two  ruling  elders,  and 
was  made  up  of  new  material  in  a  new  town,  in  the  oil 
region  of  Venango  County.  On  the  26th  of  April,  Dr. 
Hamilton  was  deposed  from  the  ministry. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  of  this  year,  the  following 
deliverance  was  made  on  the  state  of  the  country  :  — 

"  Whereas,  in  the  great  and  desolating  war  waged 
to  divide  and  destroy  our  government,  which  has  con- 
tinued now  more  than  four  years,  during  the  first  two  or 
three  years  with  varying  success,  often  apparently  to  the 
advantage  of  the  insurgents,  our  arms  have  in  the  course 
of  the  last  year,  and  especially  during  the  past  few 
weeks,  met  with  extraordinary  and  uninterrupted  suc- 
cess, so  that  at  present  our  government  is  in  possession 
of  every  important  harbor  and  seacoast  city  and  town, 
from  Maine  to  Eastern  Texas,  and  our  flag  again  floats 
over  the  fort,  against  which  the  first  shot  of  the  gigan- 
tic rebellion  was  aimed,  and  from  which  it  was  removed 
after  having  been  lowered  by  its  heroic  garrison  at  the 
close  of  a  gallant  defense ;  and  whereas,  we  are  in 
possession  of  the  capitol  of  the  so-called  confederate 
government ;  and  whereas  the  general-in-chief  of  the 
rebel  military  forces  has  surrendered  himself,  and  the 
principal  army  of  the  rebellion,  to  our  armies,  and  the 
other  armies  of  the  rebellion,  with  few  and  compara- 
tively insignificant  exceptions,  have  surrendered  and 
been  destroyed  as  organized  bodies  ;  therefore  — 

"  Resolved,  That  our  thanks  and  praises  are  due  to 
Jehovah  of  Hosts,  whose  right-arm,  we  would  distinctly 
acknowledge,  has  given  us  the  victory. 

"  Resolved,  That   the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the 


HISTORY.  166 

Providence  of  God  are  now  clearly  discernible  in  the 
light  of  events,  in  the  long  dark  period  of  our  disasters, 
in  that,  whilst  afflicting,  He  has  humbled  us,  and  by  trib- 
ulation, was  leading  us  to  a  more  full  realization  of  what 
we  are  so  slow  to  learn  —  our  dependence  on  Him  alone, 
the  necessity  of  earnest  prayer  to  Him  with  confession  of 
our  national  sins  with  contrite  hearts,  the  evil  and  guilt 
and  barbarism  of  slavery,  and  the  need  of  its  utter  re- 
moval from  the  land. 

"  Resolved,  That  our  most  hearty  thanks  are  due  to 
God,  that  through  all  our  troubles  and  distresses,  He 
has  sustained  the  hope  and  confidence  and  courage  of 
this  great  nation,  so  that  the  hearts  of  the  people  have 
not  fainted,  nor  their  strength  failed. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  record  with  deep  gratitude  the 
disposition  of  the  loyal  people  of  our  country  to  see  and 
confess  the  good  hand  of  our  God  in  our  victories,  and 
the  unanimity  with  which,  as  under  a  conmion  strong 
impulse  of  religious  emotion,  they  showed  forth  their 
joy  by  acts  and  words  of  devout  adoration. 

Resolved,  That  we  heartily  rejoice  at  the  prospect  of 
early  peace  —  a  peace,  the  result  of  the  triumph  of  the 
arms  we  were  required  by  duty  to  God  and  our  country 
to  take  up,  in  behalf  and  defense  of  right  and  justice 
and  true  liberty.  May  God,  who  has  helped  us  hitherto, 
grant  that  these  hopes  of  early  peace  may  not  be  dis- 
appointed." ^ 

With  reference  to  the  assassination  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  the  following  paper  was  passed  : 
''  Whereas,  in  his  providence,  always  wise,  often  mysteri- 
ous, God  has  permitted  the  removal  of  our  late  honored 
Chief  Magistrate,  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin,  connected 
with  a  band  of  conspirators  having  in  view  the  disorgan- 
ization of  our  P'ederal  Government :  Therefore  — 
1  Min.  vii.  94-97. 


166  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  becomes  us  as  a  people  to  bow  in 
humble  though  sorrowing  acquiescence  under  the  heavy 
affliction,  while  declaring  our  abhorrence  and  condemna- 
tion of  the  enormous  crime  against  the  government,  in 
which  we  see  the  spirit  of  barbarism,  begotten  out  of 
the  same  iniquitous  system  out  of  which  also  sprang 
treason  and  rebellion,  with  all  the  cruelties  inflicted  on 
prisoners  in  Southern  prisons,  massacres  of  surrendered 
garrisons,  lawless  guerrilla  warfare,  etc. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  assassination  of  our  late 
President,  and  attempted  assassination  of  Secretary 
Seward,  and  the  no-doubt  purposed  assassination  of  other 
hiofh  officers,  we  discover  a  legitimate  fruit  of  the  evil  and 
dangerous  tendency  of  the  abuse  of  the  great  acknowl- 
edged American  rights  of  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of 
the  press,  showing  itself  in  vituperation,  threats,  violent 
and  intemperate  denunciation,  etc.,  of  officers  of  the 
government,  an  evil  confined  to  no  particular  time  or 
class  of  persons,  although  of  late  it  has  been  specially 
prevalent  and  intensely  virulent. 

"  Resolved,  In  view  of  its  tendency  to  demoralize  and 
pervert  the  judgment  and  conscience,  as  made  manifest 
in  this  rebellion,  in  conspiracies  to  burn  and  destroy 
cities  and  towns  ;  to  commit  robberies ;  to  put  in  jeop- 
ardy the  lives  of  women  and  children,  and  other  non-com- 
batants, by  attempts  to  hurl  trains  of  passenger  cars 
from  railroad  tracks,  far  aw^ay  from  the  seat  of  war,  and 
when  such  acts  can  have  no  possible  influence  in  its 
progress  favorable  to  the  cause  in  the  interests  of  which 
they  are  professedly  done  ;  and  in  encouraging  assassina- 
tions of  officers  of  government  —  a  mode  of  warfare 
long  since  condemned  b}*  the  civilized  world  as  illegiti- 
mate and  abhorrent  to  every  human  sentiment ;  and  in 
view  of  its  numerous  evil  effects  on  the  white  population 


HISTORY.  167 

wherever  brought  into  contact  with  it,  as  well  as  in 
view  of  the  monstrous  wrong  it  is  to  the  black  race  : 
That  we  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  the  speedy,  utter  dis- 
appearance of  slavery  from  the  land ;  and  to  seek  to 
hasten  that  disappearance,  by  all  legitimate  means,  we 
regard  to  be  the  duty  of  all  good  men. 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  all,  to  render  a 
hearty  support  and  sympathy  to  President  Johnson, 
with  prayers  for  divine  counsel  in  his  behalf,  as  now  the 
head  of  this  government. 

"  Resolved,  That  Presbytery  recommend  to  all 
churches  and  church-members  under  our  care  the  ob- 
servance of  Thursday,  June  the  1st  (1865),  next,  as  a 
day  of  humiliation  and  prayer,  in  compliance  with  the 
recently  issued  proclamation  of  President  Johnson."  ^ 

In  1866,  the  changes  were  few.  On  the  25th  of 
April,  Mr.  Gray  and  Mr.  Howey  were  dismissed,  the 
former  to  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion,  the  latter  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Columbus ;  and  on  the  same  day  Mr. 
Belden  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  West- 
minster. On  the  11th  of  July,  Mr.  Lambe  (111)  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of 
Milledgeville  for  one  half  of  his  time.  On  the  23d  of 
October,  Mr.  Glenn,  licentiate,  was  dismissed  to  put 
himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Columbus, 
and  Rev.  James  Junius  Marks,  D.  D.  (112),  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  On  the  13th  of 
December,  Robert  Stansbury  Van  Cleve  (113),  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  was  received 
under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist. 

In  the  year  1867,  there  were  not  many  changes.  On 
the  8th  of  May,  Mr.  Junkin  was  released  from  the  pas- 

1    Min.  vii.  96-98. 


168  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

toral  charge  of  Greenville  ;  Mr.  Van  Cleve  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo,  of  the  other 
branch;  Rev.  John  J.  Gridley  (114)  was  received 
from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Rev.  J. 
Jones  Smyth  (115)  from  the  Presbytery  of  Indianap- 
olis ;  and  on  the  25th  of  September,  Rev.  David  Patten 
(116)  from  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  church.  The 
name  of  the  church  of  Mount  Vernon  was  changed  to 
Pleasantville,  and  the  church  of  Tidioute  reorganized, 
out  of  what  had  been  the  church  of  Deerfield.  This 
church  had  been  anciently  called  Tidioute,  but  had 
been  changed  to  Deerfield,  and  now  changed  back  to 
Tidioute.  The  church  of  Cochran  ton  was  also  re- 
ceived from  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church. 

During  the  last  years  of  this  period,  many  interesting 
revivals  of  religion  have  taken  place.  Many  of  the 
churches  were  very  greatly  refreshed  and  enlarged.  In 
the  year  1859,  there  were  reported  two  hundred  and 
seventy-six  members  as  added  on  examination.  In  the 
next  year,  two  hundred  and  forty-eight,  and  in  1867, 
three  hundred  and  eighty-six.  This  latter  was  a  year 
of  the  right-hand  of  the  Most  High,  —  a  year  when 
God  seemed  to  be  opening  the  windows  of  heaven 
in  mercy  to  the  children  of  men.  During  this  year, 
there  was  a  very  general  feeling  of  revival  through  the 
churches  of  the  Presbytery,  with  the  largest  ingather- 
ing in  its  entire  history. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

SUPPLEMENTAL. 

The  roll  of  the  Presbytery  has  been  constantly 
changing.  This  has  been  owing  not  only  to  the  com- 
mon mortality  that  belongs  to  the  human  family,  but 
chiefly  to  other  causes.  Since  the  origin  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, it  has  been  essentially  missionary  ground.  In 
some  sections  of  its  territory,  it  is  almost  as  destitute  of 
the  means  of  grace  as  in  1803,  when  "  Supplications  " 
were  made  for  supplies.  Many  of  its  congregations 
are  weak  from  the  circumstances  of  the  country  and 
population.  They  have  always  remained  weak.  Some 
sections  have  been  weakened  by  the  division  of  Pres- 
bytery in  1838.  Others,  again,  have  been  constantly 
depleted  by  emigration  to  the  West.  The  consequence 
has  been  that  pastoral  settlements  have  been  of  short 
continuance,  as  a  general  rule.  Some  of  the  early 
fathers  lived  and  died  in  the  charges  in  which  they 
were  originally  settled,  but  these  were  rare  exceptions, 
and  generally  where  they  had  procured  property,  when 
land  was  cheap,  and  drew  a  part  of  their  livelihood 
from  the  soil.  Ordinarily  the  meagreness  of  the  sala- 
ries has  induced  the  necessity  of  frequent  changes,  and 
the  breaking  up  of  pastoral  relations  that  were  other- 
wise pleasant,  and  would  have  been  permanent. 

There  have  been  upon  the  roll  of  Presbytery,  since 


170  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

its  organization,  the  names  of  one  hundred  and  six- 
teen ministers.  Of  this  number,  forty-eight  rest  from 
their  labors,  and  are  now  ministering  in  a  higher  and 
sublimer  service  in  the  Upper  Sanctuary.  It  can  truly 
be  said :  "  Their  works  do  follow  them."  The  aver- 
age age  of  these  forty-eight  departed  brethren  was 
sixty-five  years  ;  if  we  take  the  first  thirty  on  the  roll, 
the  average  age  was  seventy  years,  whilst  the  oldest 
three,  James  Satterfield,  Joseph  Badger,  and  Amos 
Chase,  reached  the  patriarchal  age  of  ninety  years.  Of 
these  only  eighteen  actually  died  within  the  territory  of 
the  Presbytery  and  slumber  amid  the  scenes  of  their 
labor  in  this  Presbytery. 

The  oldest  minister  now  living,  whose  name  is  on 
the  roll  of  the  Presbytery,  is  Daniel  Washburn,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  now  in  his  seventy-sixth  year ;  the 
next  oldest  is  David  McKinney. 

It  would  be  delightful  to  linger  over  the  necrology 

of  these  deceased  fathers  and  brethren,   to    speak  of 

their  labor  and  toil  and  suffering,  in  the  Master's  work  ; 

but   time  will  not  permit.     Their   record  is  on  high. 

And  when  the  Great  Head  and  King  in  Zion  makes  up 

his  jewels,  and  writes  up  the  number  of  his  people,  it 

will  be  found  that  this  and  that  man  were  born  in  Zion, 

through  the    instrumentality  of  their   labors,   until  a 

mighty  multitude  shall  stand  before  the  throne,  as  the 

fruit  of  their  ministry.    Their  record  will  be  bright  and 

beautiful 

"  When  gems  and  crowns  and  monuments 
Lie  mouldering  in  the  dust." 

Of  these  one  hundred  and  sixteen  ministers,  fifteen 
were  bom  in  foreign  lands ;  and  of  these,  ten  were 
born  in  Ireland,  two  in  Scotland,  two  in  Germany,  and 
one   in   England.     Of  those  who  were  natives  of  the 


HISTORY.  ITl 

United  States,  fifty-six  were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  nine 
in  Massachusetts,  six  in  Ohio,  five  in  New  York,  five  in 
New  Jersey,  four  in  Connecticut,  three  in  Vermont,  two 
in  Delaware,  two  in  Maryland,  two  in  Virginia,  and  one 
in  Indiana,  leaving  three  whose  place  of  birth  is  un- 
known. 

The  members  of  this  Presbytery  have  graduated  or 
studied  at  the  following  institutions,  namely  :  Cannons- 
burg  Academy  and  Jefferson  College,  fifty-one  ;  Wash- 
ington College,  Pa.,  six ;  College  of  New  Jersey,  five ; 
Yale,  four ;  Dickinson,  three ;  Western  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  two ;  and  one  each  from  the  following : 
Alleghany,  Pa. ;  La  Fayette  ;  Marshall ;  University  of 
Pa. ;  Madison ;  Rhode  Island  College ;  Middlebury, 
Vt.  ;  Amherst ;  Union,  N.  Y. ;  Muskingum,  O. ;  Miamie 
University  ;  Hanover,  Ind.  ;  Dartmouth  ;  Williams, 
and  Glasgow  University.  In  addition  to  these,  a  few 
studied  at  academies,  and  of  two,  the  place  of  study  is 
unknown. 

The  theological  education  of  the  earlier  ministers, 
was  mainly  pursued  privately,  under  the  superinten- 
dence of  some  laborious  pastor.  No  less  than  twenty 
of  them  studied  under  Rev.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.,  one 
of  the  earliest  pioneers,  not  only  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel, but  in  lifting  up  the  standard  of  education  west  of 
the  Alleghany  mountains.  From  him  they  received  a 
system  of  theology,  that  they  copied  out  laboriously,  and 
afterwards  taught  to  pupils  who  studied  under  them  ; 
so  that  the  influence  of  Dr.  McMillan's  teaching  did  not 
stop  with  his  immediate  pupils,  but  extended  to  those 
who  never  saw  his  face  or  heard  his  voice. 

After  the  establishment  of  theological  seminaries, 
Phineas  Camp,  received  in  1819,  was  the  first  minister 
in  the  Presbytery  who  had  been  an  inmate  of  a  sem- 


172  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

inary.  He  was  a  student  of  Princeton.  Since  that  date, 
the  Western  Theological  Seminary  has  furnished  forty- 
one  members  ;  Princeton,  nineteen  ;  Andover,  two  ; 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  two  ;  Oxford,  one  ;  and 
Auburn,  one. 

Of  the  older  ministers  on  the  roll,  three  at  least, 
Joseph  Badger,  Johnston  Eaton,  and  Benjamin  Boyd, 
were  regular  government  chaplains  during  the  war  of 
1812.  Of  the  younger  members,  eleven  at  least  served 
as  regular  government  chaplains  during  the  late  re- 
bellion, and  of  these,  three  suffered  imprisonment  at 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  In  addition  to  the  regular 
service,  nine  at  least  were  in  the  service  of  the  Chris- 
tian Commission  for  a  greater  or  less  period  of  time. 

There  is  but  one  permanent  office  in  the  Presbytery, 
that  of  Stated  Clerk.  This  office  has  been  held  by 
twelve  different  persons.  William  Wick  was  Stated 
Clerk  from  1802  to  1809  ;  Samuel  Tait  from  1809  to 
1811;  John  McPherrin  from  1811  to  1812;  Cyrus 
Riggsfrom  1812  to  1821;  Timothy  Alden  from  1821 
to  1822  ;  Johnston  Eaton  from  1822  to  1838 ;  Wells 
Bushnell  from  1838  to  1839  ;  Reuben  Lewis  from  1839 
to  1840;  Absalom  McCready  from  1840  to  1842;  John 
V.  Reynolds  from  1842  to  1851 ;  David  Waggoner  from 
1851  to  1853 ;  and  S.  J.  M.  Eaton  from  1853  to  the 
present  time. 

The  early  fathers,  and  many  of  the  younger  brethren 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  have  passed  away,  and  the 
angels  are  now  listening  to  their  songs  ;  but  they  have 
left  impressions  behind  them  that  will  never  be  oblit- 
erated until  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth  shall 
take  the  place  of  those  that  now  are.  The  record  of 
their  ortho.doxy,  their  piety,  their  burning  love  for  souls, 
and  their  self-denying  labors,  is  not  only  written  in  God's 


HISTORY.  173 

great  Book  above,  but  is  impressed  upon  the  very  hills 
and  valleys  that  once  resounded  with  their  voices. 
More  than  this :  it  is  written  upon  the  green  prairies 
of  the  great  West ;  in  the  distant  States  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  in  the  stirring  region  of  Texas.  And  this 
record  is  to  be  gathered  amid  the  quiet  homes  of  many 
States  ;  in  the  lonely  military  camp ;  amid  the  rush  and 
storm  and  crash  of  the  battle-field,  where  death  holds 
fearful  carnival ;  in  the  hospital,  amid  plague  and  pes- 
tilence and  dire  mutilating  wounds ;  and  amid  all  the 
varied  vicissitudes  of  life,  wherever  sin  has  brought 
suffering  and  peril  and  danger.  This  sweet  and  beau- 
tiful record  is  to  be  found,  wherever  the  breaking  heart 
has  called  for  comfort,  and  tearful  eyes  have  looked  for 
relief  throughout  all  our  broad  land,  and  in  other 
lands. 

The  influence  of  these  men  is  felt  in  almost  every 
community  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  in  the  peculiar 
type  of  religious  faith  and  practice  that  prevails.  The 
early  fathers  began  their  work  when  society  was  in  a 
plastic  state.  The  impressions  they  made  became  per- 
manent They  have  been  handed  down  from  one  gen- 
eration to  another.  They  still  affect  the  tone  and 
character  of  society. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  their  example  is  on  record.  It 
is  a  bright  and  luminous  chapter  in  the  history  of  the 
church  of  Jesus  Christ.  Though  dead,  they  yet  speak 
—  speak  to  the  churches ;  speak  to  us,  their  younger 
brethren,  telling  us  — 

"  The  vows 
Of  God  are  on  us,  and  we  may  not  stop 
To  play  with  shadows,  or  pluck  earthly  flowers, 
Till  we  our  work  have  done  and  rendered  up 
Account." 


PART   11. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

BIOGRAPHIES   OF    DECEASED    MINISTERS. 

"  These  all  died  in  faith." 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


(1.)  THOMAS  EDGAR  HUGHES. 

1798-1838. 

Mr.  Hughes,  who  heads  the  long  roll  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  was  a  notable  man  in  his  day.  He  was 
the  first  minister  of  the  gospel  who  settled  north  of  the 
Ohio  River.  He  was  of  Welsh  origin.  His  grand- 
father, William  Hughes,  emigrated  from  Wales  at  an 
early  period,  and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  one  hun- 
dred years.  His  father,  Rowland  Hughes,  died  January 
4,  1779,  aged  fifty-six  years.  Rowland  Hughes  was 
twice  married.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  sons  and 
one  daughter.  Each  of  these  obtained  a  good  report. 
His  second  wife  was  Elizabeth  Smiley,  daughter  of 
Robert  Smiley,  long  an  elder  in  Scotland.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  Each  of 
these  was  of  good  repute  in  the  household  of  faith. 
Three  were  ministers  of  the  gospel,  James,  Rowland, 
and  Thomas  Edgar.  Two  were  associate  judges  and 
ruling  elders,  and  the  sister,  Mrs.  Isabella  Anderson, 
was  the  mother  of  two  ministers  and  one  ruling  elder. 

Thomas  Edgar  Hughes,  the  fourth  son  of  Rowland 

and   Elizabeth  (Smiley)    Hughes,  was   born   in  York 

County,  Pa.,  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1769.     In  early 

youth  he  was  not  specially  favored  with  facilities  for 

12 


178  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

education,  except  as  to  the  principles  of  religion,  but 
was  occupied  chiefly  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  About 
a  year  after  his  father's  death,  his  mother  with  the 
family  crossed  the  mountains  and  settled  in  what  is 
now  Washington  County,  Pa.  Their  home  being 
equally  distant  between  Chartiers  and  Upper  Buffalo, 
they  enjoyed  the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  McMillan,  and 
at  times  that  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith. 

When  Mr.  Hughes  was  about  twelve  years  of  age, 
there  were  revivals  of  religion  in  both  these  churches. 
During  these  seasons  of  religious  interest,  deep  impres- 
sions were  made  upon  his  mind,  yet  there  seemed  to  be 
no  abiding  change.  His  seasons  of  thoughtfulness  con- 
tinued until  the  spring  of  1787,  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  At  this  period,  he  was  deeply  convicted 
of  sin  and  of  his  need  of  a  Saviour.  The  more  direct 
means  of  producing  this  state  of  mind  he  considered 
was  an  exhortation,  on  Monday  after  a  communion  oc- 
casion, by  Dr.  McMillan.  This  state  of  mind  continued 
for  several  months.  In  deep  distress  he  w^ent  a  dis- 
tance of  ten  miles  to  confer  with  a  pious  friend.  This 
he  ever  afterwards  regarded  as  a  memorable  visit. 
Whilst  there  his  conviction  of  the  evil  and  guilt  of  sin, 
especially  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit,  were  overpowering, 
well-nigh  bringing  him  to  despair.  On  his  way  home, 
he  was  led  to  reflect  on  the  greatness  and  majesty  of 
God,  the  method  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ, 
until  he  obtained  clearer  views  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
gospel  than  he  had  ever  before  conceived.  He  studied 
the  "  Assembly's  Larger  Catechism  "  closely,  and  was 
astonished  that  he  had  never  before  observed  the  truths 
of  God's  Word,  so  clearly  set  forth.  Many  passages  of 
the  Bible  were  brought  to  mind  with  an  energy  and 
grandeur  before  unappreciated,  and  he  was  impressed 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  179 

with  the  thought  that  they  were  the  very  words  of  God, 
most  assuredly  true  and  inestimably  precious. 

From  papers  left  for  the  information  of  his  family, 
the  following  extracts  are  made  :  — 

"  My  mind  was  taken  up  in  contemplating  the  amaz- 
ing wisdom  and  love  of  God  in  providing  a  Saviour ; 
but  the  personal  glories  of  the  Redeemer,  the  suitable- 
ness of  his  offices  and  work,  his  ability  and  willingness 
to  save  guilty  sinners,  his  sufferings  and  death,  and  his 
present  exalted  state  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
God,  filled  me  with  astonishment  and  wonder. 

"  Everything  appeared  new ;  the  glory  of  God  ap- 
peared to  shine  forth  on  everything  around  me.  With 
intense  interest  I  observed  the  change  that  had  occurred 
in  the  frame  of  my  mind.  I  dreadfully  feared  decep- 
tion, and  lifted  up  my  heart  in  prayer  to  God  to  keep 
me  from  resting  in  any  delusion.  My  mind,  so  dark 
and  burdened  before,  enjoyed  sweet  composure  and 
peace.  The  way  of  life  appeared  plain  and  infinitely 
excellent  and  glorious.  I  exclaimed  ;  '  If  I  had  a  thou- 
sand souls,  I  could  cheerfully  trust  them  all  in  the 
hands  of  such  a  Saviour ! ' 

"  From  this  date,  July  16,  1787,  I  humbly  date  my 
conversion  to  God,  when  I  was  eighteen  years  and  three 
months  of  age." 

In  his  handwriting,  there  is  still  extant  a  paper  bear- 
ing date  April  7,  1792,  in  which  he  enters  into  solemn 
covenant  with  God  and  consecration  to  his  service. 
Not  far  from  this  date,  he  commenced  his  studies  at 
the  Cannonsburg  Academy,  with  reference  to  the  gos- 
pel ministry.  Having  made  proficiency  there,  he  re- 
paired to  Princeton  and  entered  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  where  in  due  time  he  graduated,  probably  in 
1797.     There  is  evidence   that  whilst   a   student    he 


180  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

maintained  a  godly  walk  and  conversation.  His  theolog- 
ical studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  Rev. 
John  McMillan,  for  whom  he  ever  cherished  a  high  de- 
gree of  veneration. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Ohio,  on  the  17th  day  of  October,  1798.  Not  long 
after  this  he  began  his  ministerial  labors  in  the  congre- 
gation of  Mount  Pleasant,  near  Darlington,  Beaver 
County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  ordained  by  the 
same  Presbytery  on  the  28th  day  of  August,  1799.  For 
a  time  he  labored  in  the  congregation  of  New  Salem, 
in  connection  with  Mount  Pleasant ;  but  this  was  given 
up  in  1808,  when  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  the  latter 
place.  Mr.  Hughes'  ordination  was  the  first  transac- 
tion of  the  kind  north  of  the  Ohio,  and  west  of  the 
Alleghany  rivers.  His  pastoral  relation  to  the  church 
of  Mount  Pleasant  continued  until  the  19th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1830,  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years. 

Leaving  Mount  Pleasant,  he  removed  to  Wellsville, 
Ohio,  where,  for  about  four  years,  he  had  charge  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  that  place.  He  had  long  en- 
joyed a  good  degree  of  health,  but  at  length  became  a 
great  sufferer.  He  was  afflicted  with  angina  pectoris, 
causing  him  acute  pain,  and  leading  to  the  conclusion 
that  his  constitution  was  broken.  He  was  laid  aside 
from  public  labors  about  two  years.  In  this  time  he 
had  much  tender  and  solemn  religious  exercise  —  pen- 
itent, humble,  prayerful,  hopeful,  buoyant,  confiding. 
At  length  his  hour  of  death  arrived.  Amongst  his  last 
utterances,  were  these :  "  I  feel  unworthy  to  use  such 
strong  language  as  I  might  in  truth,  in  speaking  of  the 
rich  enjoyment  the  Lord  permits  me  to  experience.  I 
am  not  afraid  to  die.  My  sins  are  all  taken  away 
through  the  mediation  of  Christ."     And  so  he  departed 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  181 

in  peace,  May  2,  1838,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age 
and  fortieth  of  his  ministry. 

Amongst  his  memoranda  is  this :  "  On  the  6th  of 
May,  1799,  I  was  married  to  Mary  Donehey,  a  pious 
young  woman.  This  I  always  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  happy  occurrences  of  my  life,  one  of  the  greatest 
gifts  of  God,  and  one  received  very  sensibly  in  answer 
to  prayer.  She  has  been  ever  since,  and  continues  yet 
to  be,  the  great  comfort  of  my  life." 

His  wive  survived  him  several  years.  They  had  ten 
children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  Four  of  the 
sons,  William,  John  D.,  Watson,  and  James  R.,  are 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  one  an  efficient  ruling 
elder,  and  one  of  the  da.ughters  the  wife  of  a  minister. 
One  of  the  ministers  above  mentioned  has  three  sons 
in  the  ministry. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  a  friend  to  education.  He  did 
much  for  the  Greersburgh  Academy.  Many  of  the 
early  ministers  studied  with  him,  and  derived  great  as- 
sistance from  his  counsels  and  efforts.  His  charge  was 
blessed  with  many  revivals  during  his  ministry.  Dur- 
ing one  of  these  the  Spirit  of  God  was  copiously  poured 
out  for  several  months,  and  upwards  of  one  hundred 
persons  were  added  to  the  Mount  Pleasant  Church. 
As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful,  being  an  earnest  preacher, 
and  careful  in  the  religious  training  of  the  youth  of 
his  charge. 

He  was  an  earnest  friend  of  missions.  In  the  period 
of  his  vigor,  he  twice  went,  under  appointment  of  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  as  a  missionary  amongst  the  In- 
dians, for  a  few  months.  On  one  of  these  occasions  he 
brought  home  with  him  an  Indian  boy  to  educate.  This 
youth  whilst  in  his  family  became  hopefully  pious,  and 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion.     During  one  of 


182  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

his  missionary  tours,^  he  was  instrumental  in  leading  to 
conviction  of  sin,  a  somewhat  celebrated  Indian  warrior 
called  Ununqua,  or  Barnett,  who  was  subsequently 
baptized  and  received  into  the  church.  He  travelled  as 
far  northwest  as  Detroit  in  the  work  of  his  mission,  and 
was  with  Badger  (11)  in  the  famous  tour,  when  that 
veteran  pioneer  had  such  struggles  with  disease  and 
cold  and  privation  in  the  wilderness.  But  his  struggles 
have  all  ceased.  He  rests  from  his  labors.  His  min- 
istry is  now  carried  on  where  there  are  neither  strug- 
gles, nor  want,  nor  doubts,  nor  fears.  He  rests  from  his 
labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him. 

(2.)  WILLIAM  WICK. 

1799-1815. 

William  Wick  was  a  lineal  descendent  of  the  Pil- 
grim Fathers.  He  was  the  son  of  Lemuel  and  Deborah 
(Luptein)  Wick,  and  was  born  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y., 
on  the  29th  day  of  June,  1768.  He  removed  to  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  in  1790.  On  the  21st  day  of  April, 
1791,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  EHzabeth 
McFarland,  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  Daniel  Mc Far- 
land,  an  officer  of  the  Continental  Army,  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Barber.  Her  father  emigrated  to  Washington  County 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  settled  on  a  large  tract  of 
land  on  what  was  called  Lower  Ten  Mile  Creek.  His 
name  is  mentioned  in  "  Old  Redstone,*'  page  146.  She 
united  with  the  church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Thaddeus  Dodd,  and  received  her  education  chiefly 
from  him. 

There  was  a  great  call  for  ministers  in  these  days, 
1  Dr.  Elliott. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  188 

and  Dr.  McMillan  was  constantly  seeking  out  young 
men  of  piety  and  gifts,  and  urging  them  to  dedicate 
themselves  to  the  great  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 
Amongst  others,  he  sought  out  Mr.  Wick,  and  urged 
him  to  abandon  his  farm  and  his  cattle  for  this  urgent 
work.  Being  of  a  delicate  constitution,  he  had  some 
doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  the  undertaking ;  but  after 
much  prayer  and  reflection,  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to 
go  to  the  Academy  at  Cannonsburg.  Here  he  pursued 
his  studies  with  quietness  and  assiduity,  enjoying  what 
facilities  were  there  provided.  His  studies  here  were 
completed  in  1797,  before  the  College  charter  was  ob 
tained.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  "  Franklin 
Literary  Society." 

His  theological  education  was  obtained  at  Dr.  McMil- 
lan's log-cabin,  when  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  August  28,  1799. 
Having  accepted  calls  to  labor  in  the  congregations  of 
Neshannock  and  Hopewell,  Pa.,  he  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  installed  pastor  of  these  con- 
gregations, on  the  3d  day  of  September,  1800.  During 
the  next  year  he  was  released  from  the  charge  of  the 
congregation  of  Neshannock,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
that  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  for  the  half  of  his  time. 

Mr.  Wick  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  was  also  an  original  member 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver.  His  labors  were  confined 
chiefly  to  Youngstown  and  Hopewell,  although  he  found 
time  to  engage  in  missionary  work  "  in  the  regions  be- 
yond." He  was  the  first  permanent  laborer  in  the 
Western  Reserve.  About  three  years  after  his  settle- 
ment, he  was  blessed  with  the  outpouring  of  God's 
Spirit,  during  which  many  were  gathered  into  the 
church.     He  was  aided  by  the  Connecticut  Missionary 


184  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Society,  for  a  year  or  two,  and  was  always  the  friend  of 
missions.  He  and  Joseph  Badger  were  ever  fast 
friends,  and  took  missionary  tours  together.  He  was 
Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in  1811. 

Says  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wood,  "  I  remember  dis- 
tinctly of  Revs.  Mc  Curdy,  Marquis,  Badger,  Hughes,  and 
others  meeting  at  my  father's  house,  to  devise  plans  for 
the  spread  of  the  gospel  throughout  the  western  wilder- 
ness." 

He  was  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Word,  yet  his  min- 
istry was  brief.  In  October,  1814,  he  contracted  a 
severe  cold,  and  in  a  short  time  it  became  evident  that 
his  lungs  were  seriously  affected.  He  was  feeble  through 
the  winter,  yet  was  generally  able  to  preach.  March 
26,  1815,  was  the  Sabbath  he  was  to  preach  at  Hope- 
well. He  was  not  able  to  leave  the  house,  and  sent  one 
of  his  sons  to  request  the  congregation  to  come  to  his 
house,  and  although  very  feeble,  addressed  them  in  a 
very  solemn  and  affecting  manner,  and  baptized  a  child. 
Being  exhausted  he  was  assisted  to  his  bed.  On  Mon- 
day and  Tuesday  he  seemed  better,  and  walked  about 
the  house  and  yard,  and  attended  to  family  worship  as 
usual.  On  Tuesday  morning  he  sung  with  his  family, 
in  worship,  in  a  clear  voice,  the  hymn  — 

"  On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand." 

After  singing,  he  said,  "  This  music  sounds  heavenly. 
O,  what  will  it  be  to  hear  the  heavenly  strains  above !  " 
That  evening  he  retired  without  any  visible  change. 
At  six  o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning,  Mrs.  Wick  no- 
ticed that  his  breathing  was  short  and  labored.  He  was 
beyond  the  power  of  speech,  and  before  his  family  could 
be  summoned,  his  spirit  had  taken  its  flight  to  the  land 
of  rest  and  glory. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  185 

His  death  took  place  at  Hopewell,  Pa.,  on  the  29th 
day  of  March,  1815,  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his  age, 
and  sixteenth  of  his  ministry.  At  his  own  request  he 
was  buried  at  Youngstown,  Ohio. 

He  was  the  father  of  eight  sons  and  three  daughters, 
the  greatest  portion  of  whom  have  gone  down  to  the 
grave.  One  of  his  daughters  was  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Anderson  (37),  for  many  years  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  the  first  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Franklin,  Pa. 

His  sons  have,  several  of  them,  occupied  places  of 
authority  and  trust  amongst  their  fellow- citizens,  and 
one  of  them  has  been  in  the  chief  council  of  the  nation. 

It  is  recorded  on  his  tombstone  that  he  preached 
during  his  ministry,  one  thousand  five  hundred  and 
twenty-two  sermons,  and  married  fifty-six  couples. 

(3.)  SAMUEL  TAIT. 

1800-1841. 

Samuel  Tait  was  of  Scotch  descent.  He  was  bom 
near  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  on  the  17th  day  of  February, 
1772.  Although  unpromising  in  early  life,  yet  by  the 
grace  of  God  he  became  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
distinguished  ministers  in  the  Presbytery.  His  father 
was  engaged  in  the  packing  business.  This  was  the 
transportation  of  goods  over  the  mountains  on  horse- 
back. Samuel  Tait  followed  the  same  bnsiness  with  his 
father,  and  after  age  prevented  the  latter  from  this  em- 
ployment, he  carried  it  on  for  himself  He  was  a  pro- 
fane lad,  and  gave  little  promise  of  usefulness.  Whilst 
yet  in  his  youth,  his  father  removed  with  his  family  to 
Ligonier,  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  Mr.  Tait  dated 
his  first  religious  impressions  to  a  conversation  with  Rev. 


186  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Elisha  Mc Curdy.  In  later  years  whilst  ploughing  in  the 
field,  the  conviction  forced  itself  upon  his  mind  that  he 
was  a  poor  lost  sinner.  At  this  time  he  would  often 
leave  his  plough,  and  retire  to  the  woods,  and  there 
plead  for  pardoning  mercy,  until  finally  light  broke  in 
upon  his  soul,  and  he  was  enabled  to  cry  "Abba, 
Father."  At  this  time  he  had  no  thought  of  seeking 
the  ministry.  He  was,  as  he  thought,  settled  in  life, 
married  and  working  on  his  farm.  But  a  committee  of 
Presbytery,  much  to  his  astonishment,  waited  upon  him, 
and  urged  him  to  seek  preparation  for  preaching  the 
gospel. 

He  repaired  to  Cannonsburg  Academy,  and  after- 
wards studied  theology  with  Dr.  McMillan,  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio  on  the  25th  day  of  June,  1800.  During  that  sum- 
mer and  autumn  he  travelled  over  what  is  now  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  In  the  month  of 
September  of  that  year,  he  preached  for  the  first  time, 
to  the  people  of  Cool  Spring,  in  Mercer  County,  Pa., 
from  the  words,  "  And  they  all  with  one  accord  began 
to  make  excuse."  This  sermon  was  blessed  to  the  con- 
version of  many  persons.  On  the  19th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1800,  having  accepted  calls  from  Cool  Spring,  and 
Upper  Salem,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  their  pas- 
tor by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  in  whose  bounds  these 
churches  then  were. 

The  young  pastor  resided  at  Cool  Spring,  in  a  log- 
cabin  that  he  had  got  raised  and  clapboarded.  During 
his  absence  on  a  preaching  tour,  his  wife  chinked  and 
daubed  the  cracks  between  the  logs  with  mortar  made 
by  her  own  hands. 

The  pastoral  relation  with  Cool  Spring  and  Upper 
Salem  continued  until  June  25,  1806,  when  he  relin- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  187 

quished  the  charge  of  Upper  Salem,  and  gave  half  his 
time  to  the  newly  organized  church  of  Mercer.  At  the 
time  of  his  coming  to  Mercer  County,  the  place  where 
Mercer  now  stands  was  an  unbroken  forest.  Soon  after 
the  laying  out  of  the  town,  a  church  was  organized,  that 
sought  the  labors  of  Mr.  Tait.  In  June,  1813,  the  peo- 
ple of  Cool  Spring  agreeing  to  worship  at  Mercer,  he 
gave  a  part  of  his  time  once  more  to  Salem,  and  finally 
in  1826,  he  relinquished  Cool  Spring,  and  gave  all  his 
time  to  Mercer.  His  pastorate  at  Mercer  continued 
until  his  death;  although  the  disease  that  finally  ter- 
minated his  life,  laryngeal  consumption,  prevented  him 
from  engaging  in  active  labors  for  a  short  time  pre- 
vious to  his  death.  He  was  called  to  rest  on  the  2d 
day  of  June,  1841,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age 
and  forty -first  of  his  ministry.  He  died  strong  in  the 
faith,  giving  glory  to  God.  His  remains  are  interred 
at  the  rear  of  the  pulpit,  where  he  had  so  long  preached 
Jesus. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amelia  Calvin. 
They  had  two  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
the  other  was  a  member  of  the  Mercer  bar,  and  died 
before  his  father.  During  his  entire  pastorate  he  re- 
sided on  a  farm  and  wrought  with  his  own  hands.  In 
his  earlier  years,  the  field  was  his  study,  and  his  pocket 
Bible  his  library.  At  intervals  of  rest  in  the  labors  of 
the  field,  he  would  turn  over  the  leaves  of  his  Bible, 
and  when  following  the  plough,  his  mind  was  busy  in 
the  great  themes  of  the  gospel.  In  appearance,  he 
was  most  commanding.  He  was  full  six  feet  two  inches 
in  height,  erect  in  his  bearing,  with  a  firm,  grave  cast 
of  countenance.  Many  thought  him  austere,  yet  he  was 
a  kind  and  sympathizing  friend,  and  had  a  melting  ten- 
derness, as  he  pointed  men  to  the  Saviour.    Yet  withal, 


188  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

he  was  firm  and  immovable  when  the  path  of  duty  was 
plain.  He  was  the  enemy  of  all  species  of  vice  and 
immorality,  and  sometimes  exposed  himself  to  the 
wrath  of  evil-doers,  by  his  opposition  to  their  evil 
courses. 

He  was  most  emphatically  a  man  of  prayer.  His 
faith  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer  was  wonderful.  He  had 
an  elder,  Joseph  Smith,  who  was  not  one  whit  behind 
him  in  this  respect.  The  prayers  of  these  two  men 
seem,  even  to  the  present  day,  to  be  bringing  showers 
of  mercy  upon  the  church  of  Mercer.  On  one  occasion 
the  infant  son  of  Mr.  Smith  was  sick,  as  his  physician 
supposed,  unto  death.  The  father,  thinking  the  child 
was  at  the  point  of  death,  left  the  room.  INIeeting  Mr. 
Tait  at  the  door,  he  told  him  of  his  grief,  and  that  all 
had  been  done  in  the  power  of  man,  and  yet  the  child 
must  die. 

Says  Mr.  Tait,  "  Have  you  called  the  elders  of  the 
church  together  to  pray  over  him  ?  " 

Another  elder  who  was  near  was  called  in,  and  the 
three  knelt  down  by  the  couch,  and  Mr.  Tait  poured 
forth  petitions  for  the  sick  infant  "  with  strong  crying 
and  tears,"  and  importunity,  and  a  wrestling  with  the 
"  Angel  of  the  Covenant,"  such  as  the  elders  said  they 
had  never  heard  equaled.  He  seemed  as  though  he 
would  not  be  denied.  And  "  He  had  power  with  God, 
and  prevailed."  The  child  began  to  grow  better,  and 
recovered,  and  was  from  that  time  dedicated  to  God, 
for  the  service  of  the  ministry.  He^  is  now  standing 
on  one  of  the  high  places  of  Zion,  in  the  ministry  to 
which  he  was  dedicated  in  the  faith  and  prayer  of  his 
father. 

As  a  man,  Mr.  Tait  was  distinguished  for  his  strong 
1  Rev.  J.  T.  Smith,  D.  D.  (61). 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  189 

common  sense,  discriminating  judgment,  and  familiar 
acquaintance  with  the  human  heart.  As  a  preacher  he 
was  often  eloquent,  and  had  great  power  over  an  au- 
dience, and  at  times  could  sway  them  with  wondrous 
influence.  As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful.  In  dealing 
with  "  cases  of  conscience,"  as  the  early  fathers  called 
them,  he  was  most  judicious  and  successful.  Some- 
times to  the  heart  almost  broken  with  anguish,  he 
seemed  harsh,  yet  the  result  generally  was  that  under 
his  advice  inquirers  were  led  to  forsake  self,  and 
cling  to  Christ  alone.  As  a  member  of  the  ecclesi- 
astical courts,  he  stood  high  for  wisdom  and  good  judg- 
ment. He  was  called  to  the  Moderator's  chair  more 
frequently  than  any  other  member  of  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Tait  had  the  great  satisfaction  of  laboring  in 
numerous  revivals  of  religion.  The  first  was  during 
the  "  Falling  Exercise,"  which  was  shared  in  by  his 
churches.  Again  in  1831,  his  churches  were  greatly 
blessed.  Another  was  in  1836.  Yet  in  the  history  of 
his  labors  there  was  almost  a  constant  ingathering  of 
souls  to  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  the  influence  of  which 
seems  to  remain  unto  this  day. 

Mr.  Tait  was  for  a  time  a  missionary  to  the  Indians 
at  Sandusky,  or  on  the  Maumee  River  in  Ohio.  He  was 
appointed  to  this  charge  by  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
on  the  3d  day  of  October,  1822.  The  Board  of  Trust 
of  the  Western  Missionary  Society  were  about  organiz- 
ing a  mission  family  for  this  region,  and  recommended 
the  Synod  to  appoint  Mr.  Tait  as  superintendent  jyvo 
tempore.  This  appointment  was  accepted,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded to  the  field  and  labored  faithfully  for  a  period 
of  seven  months,  when  he  returned  home. 

Mr.  Tait  was,  when  a  student,  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  "  Philo  Literary   Society,"  at   Cannonsburg.      He 


190  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

was  also  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  and  in  1818,  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  paper  adopted  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  on  occasion  of  his  death  :  ^ — 

"  In  the  death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tait,  not  only  is  the 
Presbytery  of  which  he  was  literally  the  father  and 
founder,  called  to  mourn,  but  also  that  the  church  of 
Christ  has  lost  one  of  its  most  efficient  ministers.  For 
upwards  of  forty  years,  our  departed  father  has  stood  as 
a  watchman  on  the  walls  of  our  Zion,  and  has  labored 
truly,  with  apostolical  zeal,  to  advance  the  interest  and 
kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ.  As  a  preacher  of  the  gospel, 
Mr.  Tait  had  few  superiors.  Having  experienced  in 
his  own  heart  many  of  the  blessed  fruits  that  flow  from 
Calvary,  his  soul  seemed  absorbed  in  the  work  of  lead- 
ing others  to  the  same  blessed  fountaiji  opened  in  the 
house  of  David  for  sin  and  uncleanness.  Nor  were  his 
labors  confined  to  the  Sabbath  and  the  pulpit.  From 
house  to  house  he  visited  the  sick,  cheered  the  mourn- 
ing, •comforted  the  disconsolate,  and  pointed  the  dying 
to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world." 

"  On  his  death-bed  Mr.  Tait  felt  much  for  the  dear 
people,  for  whose  salvation  he  had  so  long  labored,  and 
literally  spent  his  dying  breath  in  praying  for  a  revival 
of  religion  among  them.  And  when  his  end  drew  nigh, 
a  minister  and  friend  who  stood  by  his  bed,  inquired  if 
he  found  comfort  now  in  the  doctrines  he  had  so  long 
preached  to  others,  his  answer  was,  '  All  is  peace, 
peace  through  the  blood  of  Christ.' 

"  Blessed  life !  With  Paul  he  might  say,  '  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 

1  Committee :  A.  McCready,  Cyrus  Dickson,  and  W.  M.  Francis. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  191 

kept  the  faith ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a 
crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous 
Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day  ;  and  not  to  me 
only,  but  unto  all  them  also,  that  love  his  appearing.' " 

"  And  now,  though  the  tongue  had  ceased  to  dis- 
charge its  functions,  and  the  lips  that  but  a  moment  be- 
fore glowed  with  the  story  of  a  Saviour's  love  w^ere 
sealed  forever,  yet  when  the  dying  saint  was  again  asked 
by  the  same  pious  friend  if  all  was  well,  and  having 
made  a  fruitless  effort  to  reply,  he  raised  his  hands  to 
heaven,  whilst  a  beam  of  inexpressible  delight  played 
upon  his  countenance.  And  thus  he  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus. 

" '  See  where  he  walks,  on  yonder  mount,  that  lifts 
Its  summit  high  on  the  right  hand  of  bliss, 
Sublime  in  glory,  talking  with  his  peers 
Of  the  incarnate  Saviour's  love, 
And,  past  affliction,  lost  in  present  joy.'  " 

(4.)  JOSEPH   STOCKTON. 

1799-1832. 

Joseph  Stockton  was  the  son  of  Robert  and  Mary 
(McKemy)  Stockton,  of  Franklin  County,  Pa.  He 
was  born  near  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  on  the  25th  day 
of  February,  1779.  His  parents  had  eight  children  — 
four  sons,  Thomas,  Robert,  John,  and  Joseph,  with 
four  daughters,  Margaret  (Cotton),  Frances  (Stewart), 
Jane  (Brice),  and  Elizabeth  (Cunningham).  Of  these, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  son  and 
seventh  child. 

In  the  year  1784,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Washington,  Pa.  His  classical 
studies  were  prosecuted  at  the  Cannonsburg  Academy. 
In  this  institution  he  was  also  employed  for  a  time  as  an 


192  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

instructor.  He  studied  theology  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  John  McMillan,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  on  the  26th  day  of  June,  1799,  being  but  a  few 
months  over  twenty  years  of  age.  In  the  next  year,  on 
the  8th  day  of  May,  1800,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Esther  Clark,  a  daughter  of  David  Clark,  Esq., 
who  resided  near  his  father's  residence. 

In  the  same  year  in  which  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
he  took  a  tour  over  the  territory  now  constituting  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  in  company  with  Elisha  McCurdy, 
and  preached,  amongst  other  places,  at  Meadville,  Pa. 
In  the  next  year,  late  in  the  autumn,  having  received 
an  invitation  to  preach  statedly  at  this  place,  he  set  out 
with  his  wife  from  the  paternal  home  on  horseback,  and 
bearing  with  them  the  few  things  that  were  to  make 
home  comfortable,  and  in  due  time  pitched  his  tent  in 
the  new  town  of  Meadville.  Over  the  church  in  this 
place,  in  connection  with  that  of  Little  Sugar  Creek, 
now  Cochranton,  he  was  ordained  as  pastor  on  the  24th 
day  of  June,  1801,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  in  whose 
bounds  these  churches  then  were.  On  this  occasion 
Elisha  McCurdy  preached  the  sermon,  and  Joseph  Pat- 
terson delivered  the  charges.  His  relation  to  these 
churches  was  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on 
the  27th  day  of  June,  1810. 

During  his  pastorate  of  nine  years,  Mr.  Stockton  had 
charge  of  the  Meadville  Academy,  and  conducted  it 
with  ability  and  success.  He  was  dismissed  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  on  the  27th  day  of  June,  1810,  and 
soon  after  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
from  which  he  was  transferred  to  that  of  Ohio,  by  act 
of  Synod,  October,  1822. 

In  1809,  he  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Academy,   which   was   subsequently   merged    into  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  198 

"  Western  University  of  Pennsylvania."  In  this  posi- 
tion he  continued  to  labor  with  great  success  until  1820. 
In  connection  with  his  labors  in  the  Academy,  he  gave 
his  attention  to  the  preparation  of  school-books.  He 
published  during  these  years,  "  The  Western  Spelling- 
Book,"  and  "  The  Western  Calculator,"  both  of  which 
have  been  extensively  used  throughout  the  region  west 
of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  In  addition  to  these  edu- 
cational works,  he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the 
preparation  of  a  theological  work,  but  his  life  was  not 
spared  for  its  completion.  His  scholarship  was  consid- 
erable, and  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  education  of 
the  young.  In  1827,  he  was  one  of  the  instructors  in 
the  Western  Theological  Seminary.    • 

But  his  labors  were  not  confined  to  the  Academy, 
after  removing  to  Pittsburgh.  He  still  sought  and  em- 
braced opportunities  of  preaching  the  gospel,  in  the 
region  around.  He  preached  for  a  time  to  the  soldiers 
at  the  United  States  garrison,  two  miles  from  the  city, 
at  what  is  now  Lawrenceville.  For  several  years  he 
preached  to  the  church  of  Pine  Creek,  at  first  devoting 
one  third  and  afterwards  one  half  of  his  time  to  this 
charge.  Here  his  labors  were  greatly  blessed  to  the 
ingathering  of  souls  to  the  fold  of  Christ.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  had  been  re- 
ceived on  profession  of  faith.  The  remaining  portion 
of  his  time  was  devoted  to  missionary  labor,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church  in  Alleghany  City.  The  last  three 
years  of  his  life,  his  ministerial  labors  were  wholly  given 
to  the  Church  of  Pine  Creek.  During  this  period 
the  town  of  Sharpsburg  took  its  rise,  and  the  popula- 
tion increasing,  on  petition  from  the  people,  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio  divided  the  congregation,  forming  a  new 
one  called  Sharpsburg. 
13 


194  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

Mr.  Stockton  was  of  the  medium  height,  mild  and 
pleasant  in  his  manner,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  most 
courteous  Christian  gentleman.  He  was  always  earnest 
in  the  defense  of  the  truth.  On  one  occasion,  he  met 
a  gentleman  who  was  skeptical  in  his  views  of  divine 
truth.  After  laboring  with  him  an  entire  evening  in 
his  attempts  to  convince  him  of  his  error,  with  little 
effect,  the  gentleman  retired  to  his  room.  But  Mr. 
Stockton  was  not  satisfied  and  followed  him  to  his 
room,  and  renewed  the  contest.  "  Admitting  that  you 
are  right,"  he  said,  "  when  we  pass  to  the  world  of 
spirits,  I  shall  be  as  safe  and  well  off  as  you.  But  if 
you  are  wrong,  and  I  am  right,  you  will  be  lost.  Is  not 
my  ground  then  the  safest?"  The  gentleman  was 
forced  to  admit  the  soundness  of  the  argument,  and  the 
untenable  ground  he  had  been  occupying. 

But  his  work  upon  earth  was  done.  The  Master  had 
no  longer  need  of  his  services,  and  he  was  called  home 
to  his  reward.  He  was  called  suddenly  to  Baltimore, 
to  see  a  son  who  was  dangerously  sick  of  fever,  when 
he  himself  was  attacked  by  cholera.  After  an  illness, 
attended  with  extreme  suffering,  of  twenty-four  hours' 
continuance,  he  died,  on  the  29th  day  of  October,  1832, 
in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  thirty-third  of 
his  ministry. 

Although  called  to  leave  the  world  suddenly,  and 
surrounded  by  comparative  strangers,  he  was  calm  and 
resigned.  Having  requested  the  fifteenth  chapter  of 
John  to  be  read,  and  joining  in  prayer  with  a  minis- 
terial brother,  he  remarked:  "The  battle  is  nearly 
fought  —  Christ  is  with  me."  He  frequently  expressed 
a  longing  desire  to  be  released,  and  that  the  time  might 
speedily  come,  when  he  should  see  Jesus  face  to  face 
He  frequently  prayed,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  195 

thy  servant  waits."  Finally,  sending  his  love  to  his  wife 
and  children,  and  an  affectionate  remembrance  to  his 
congregation  and  all  his  friends,  he  closed  his  eyes  and 
passed  to  the  other  side,  to  look  upon  the  face  of  God. 

He  left  a  widow,  four  sons,  and  three  daughters.  His 
remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  burial-grounds  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Baltimore,  but  in  the  year 
1858  were  removed  to  the  beautiful  cemetery  near 
Alleghany  city. 

Mr.  Stockton  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  for  a  period  of  nine  years,  one 
of  its  active  and  useful  members. 

(5.)  ROBERT  LEE. 

1800-1842. 

Mr.  Lee  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  At  the  time  of  its  organization, 
he  was  settled  at  Amity  and  Big  Spring  (afterwards 
Rocky  Spring).  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Lee,  and 
was  born  in  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1771.  In 
the  year  1787,  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  with 
his  father's  family,  and  settled  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.  He  was  thus  brought  within  the  sphere  of  the 
influence  of  Cannonsburg.  He  remained  at  home,  as- 
sisting in  the  maintenance  of  the  family,  until  he  was 
of  age,  when  he  commenced  for  himself  the  struggle 
with  the  world,  yet  without  any  means  save  his  own 
hands,  and  trusting  only  in  Providence. 

It  is  not  now  known  when  he  made  a  'profession  of 
religion ;  yet  in  1794,  when  he  was  in  his  twenty-third 
year,  we  find  him  commencing  his  studies,  preparatory 
to  the  ministry,  at  the  Cannonsburg  Academy.  He  was 
prompted  to  this  by  the  advice  and  persuasion  of  Dr. 


196  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

John  McMillan.  From  Dr.  McMillan  he  had  also  the 
promise  of  aid  for  his  support,  whilst  engaged  in  study. 
Then  commenced  the  great  struggle  with  the  world,  and 
contact  with  the  discouraging  circumstances  that  always 
surround  the  student  of  limited  means ;  for  although  per- 
mitted to  lean  securely  on  the  patronage  of  his  friend, 
his  independent  spirit  and  sense  of  duty  prompted  him 
to  lean  on  his  own  efforts.  He  had  strong  hands  and  a 
brave  heart,  and  was  habituated  to  manual  labor.  So  he 
resolved  to  assist  himself  in  every  way  possible.  Accord- 
ingly he  engaged  in  small  contracts  to  perform  labor 
where  it  was  required,  and  even  cleared  at  one  time 
ten  acres  of  land.  To  accomplish  this  without  neglect- 
ing his  studies,  he  was  often  obliged  to  work  at  night, 
fixing  up  his  log  heaps,  and  attending  to  his  fires,  when 
others  were  sleeping. 

After  the  completion  of  his  classical  studies,  he 
studied  theology  under  the  direction  of  his  patron.  Dr. 
McMillan,  and  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio,  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry, 
December  17,  1799.  After  passing  through  all  his 
trials,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  by  the  same 
Presbytery,  on  the  22d  day  of  October,  1800. 

After  travelling  through  the  vacancies  as  a  mission- 
ary, he  accepted  calls  from  the  congregations  of  Amity 
and  Big  Spring,  to  become  their  pastor,  and  was  or- 
dained and  installed  on  the  26th  day  of  June,  1801. 
Here  he  continued  to  labor,  under  great  discourage- 
ments, arising  from  a  large  field  and  a  limited  support, 
for  about  six* years,  when,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
he  asked  the  Presbytery  to  release  him  from  his  pasto- 
ral charge.  The  relation  was  dissolved,  July  14,  1807. 
He  remained,  however,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Pres- 
bytery for   five   or    six    years,    preaching   in   various 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  197 

churches  as  a  stated  supply.  In  1810,  he  was  supply- 
ing Slate  Lick  and  Union. 

On  the  7th  day  of  April,  1813,  he  was  dismissed  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  on  the  20th  day  of  the 
same  month,  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Red- 
stone. In  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery,  he  accepted 
calls  from  the  congregation  of  Salem,  in  Westmore- 
land County,  Pa.,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  August,  1813.  Here  he  remained 
as  pastor  until  October  20,  1819. 

The  West  now  began  to  attract  his  attention  as  a  field 
of  labor.  He  had  a  numerous  family  dependent  upon 
him,  and  there  was  in  the  new  field  opening  in  northern 
Ohio,  the  prospect,  not  only  of  an  interesting  field  of 
ministerial  labor,  but  the  way  for  the  improvement  of 
the  worldly  circumstances  of  his  family.  Accordingly, 
in  November,  1821,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  what 
is  now  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  He  was  dismissed  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  April  17,  1822,  and  be- 
came connected  with  the  Presbytery  of  Richland.  In 
this  new  relation  he  became  pastor  of  the  congregation 
of  Hopeful.  This  congregation  afterwards  became  the 
congregation  of  Ashland.  Here  he  labored  for  about 
four  years.  He  then  became  the  pastor  of  the  Church 
of  Bucyrus,  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  then  under  the  care 
of  Richland,  but  now  Marion  Presbytery..  His  pas- 
torate in  this  church  continued  many  years,  and  with 
encouraging  success.  After  retiring  from  this  field, 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Leesville,  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  exercised  the  duties  of  a  minister  in 
various  vacant  churches  and  missionary  points,  until  the 
close  of  his  earthly  labors.  Sometimes  he  acted  under 
the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions, 
sometimes  under  that  of  the  Presbytery,  and  sometimes 


198  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

he  used  his  own  discretion,  preaching  the  gospel  to  the 
poor,  and  laboring  wherever  duty  called.  It  was  a  sat- 
isfaction to  him,  that  he  was  able  to  preach  where  Provi- 
dence opened  the  way,  after  retiring  from  the  active 
duties  of  the  pastorate. 

At  the  age  of  seventy-one,  a  few  weeks  before  his 
death,  he  had  arranged  to  engage  in  ministerial  labors 
in  a  destitute  section  of  the  country,  some  twelve  miles 
from  the  place  of  his  residence.  But  the  Master  had 
ordered  otherwise.  The  work  and  the  self-denial  and 
the  warfare  must  now  cease,  and  instead,  the  crown  and 
the  palm  and  the  sweet  golden  harp.  He  died  at  Lees- 
ville,  Ohio,  on  the  9th  day  of  February,  1842,  in  the 
seventy-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the  forty-first  of  his 
ministry.  His  last  words  were,  "  Lord  Jesus,  if  it  be 
thy  will,  come  quickly,  that  I  may  be  at  rest." 

In  January,  1800,  Mr.  Lee  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Sarah  Swerngen,  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  who 
survived  him.  In  her  youth  she  was  a  lady  of  great 
personal  beauty,  and  throughout  life  a  fitting  helper  to 
the  pioneer  missionary.  Their  family  consisted  of  eight 
children.  Four  sons  and  one  daughter  are  living,  and 
are  all  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Thus 
God  remembers  his  children,  and  is  the  God  of  his  peo- 
ple and  of  their  families. 

In  person,  Mr.  Lee  was  tall,  slender,  and  dignified  in 
appearance  and  deportment.  He  was  mild  and  concil- 
iating, yet  earnest  in  defense  of  the  truth.  One  who 
knew  him  in  youth  and  in  old  age,^  says :  "  As  a 
preacher,  and  in  his  address  and  manner,  he  was  a  fair 
model  specimen  of  the  ministers  of  the  West,  fifty  or 
.  sixty  years  ago.  He  was  firm  in  his  belief  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible  as  set  forth  in  the  standards  of  the 
1  Rev.  James  Rowland. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  199 

Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  was  the  earnest  ad- 
vocate, both  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it.  In  the  con- 
struction of  his  sermons,  he  never  failed  to  present  the 
leading  points  which  he  conceived  to  be  contained  in 
his  text,  by  naming  the  order  in  which  he  designed  to 
discuss  each. 

"  In  preaching,  his  enunciation  was  clear,  distinct, 
impressive,  strikingly  sincere  and  solemn,  as  was  also 
his  manner.  During  the  twenty  years,  the  last  of  his 
ministerial  life,  in  which  he  acted  as  a  pioneer  minister 
in  the  newly  settled  region  of  Northern  Ohio,  he  aimed 
at  doing  all  he  could  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the 
good  of  souls.  He  was  impeded,  however,  by  an  insuf- 
ficient support,  which  compelled  him  at  times  to  labor 
with  his  own  hands,  for  the  support  of  himself  and 
family." 

(6.)  JAMES  SATTERFIELD. 

1800-1857. 

James  Satterfield,  the  son  of  James  and  Mar- 
garet (Meed)  Satterfield,  was  born  in  Queen  Anne 
County,  Maryland,  in  August,  1767.  In  his  father's 
family  there  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  He 
was  the  fifth  child.  His  father  dying  in  Maryland,  his 
mother  married  Mr.  Davies,  and  moved  to  Washing- 
ton County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1786  or  1787,  and  settled 
on  a  farm.  This  brought  him  within  the  sphere  of  Dr. 
McMillan's  influence,  and  in  part  accounts  for  the  pur- 
suits of  his  subsequent  life.  He  became  a  professor  of 
religion  in  his  fourteenth  year.  His  convictions  of  sin 
were  so  powerful  that  they  influenced  his  views  of 
religious  experience  forever  afterwards. 

He  was  a  farmer  in  Washington  County.     One  year 


200  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

he  got  his  wheat  ground,  put  it  on  board  a  flat-boat,  and 
run  it  to  New  Orleans,  then  under  Spanish  dominion. 
The  enterprise  was  a  most  profitable  one,  but  attended 
with  great  peril.  He  then  took  a  vessel  and  returned 
by  sea  to  Baltimore,  and  from  thence  walked  over  the 
mountains  home.  This  profitable  venture,  together 
with  the  atmosphere  that  surrounded  Dr.  McMillan's 
log-cabin,  was,  under  God,  the  means  of  directing  him 
to  the  ministry.  He  went  to  the  Cannonsburg  Acad- 
emy and  pursued  his  studies  there,  in  the  meanwhile 
being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  "  Philo  Literary  So- 
ciety." He  of  course  studied  theology  with  Dr.  McMil- 
lan, and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio,  on  the  3d  day  of  September,  1800. 
After  his  licensure,  he  was  sent  as  a  missionary  to  the 
Indians,  and  travelled  as  far  west  as  Detroit.  In  1801, 
he  removed  to  Mercer  County,  and  on  the  3d  day  of 
March,  1802,  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
congregations  of  Moorfield,  Pa.,  and  Upper  Neshan- 
nock,  now  Neshannock,  Pa.,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie.  In  1808,  he  w*as  set  off  with  others 
to  form  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  now  Beaver.  He 
was  released  from  the  charge  of  Neshannock,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1812,  and  from  that  of  Moor- 
field in  1834.  From  1812  to  1815,  he  had  charge  of  the 
congregations  of  Brookfield,  Ohio,  in  connection  with 
Hubbard  and  Moorfield.  He  continued  his  connection 
with  Hubbard,  until  April  6,  1831,  and  with  Moorfield 
until  he  demitted  all  regular  pastoral  labor. 

During  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  had  no  regu- 
lar charge,  but  preached  quite  frequently  to  vacant 
churches,  and  assisted  at  communion  occasions.  He 
was  always  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  and  to  bear  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  201 

testimony  for  Christ.  His  remarks  were  always  appro- 
priate and  happy  on  communion  occasions. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  and  robust  constitution,  and 
up  to  the  last  days  of  his  life  could  mount  a  horse  and 
ride  to  the  place  of  worship.  His  last  illness  was  brief. 
He  complained  of  a  sore  throat  after  coming  from 
church,  and  soon  other  unfavorable  symptoms  presented 
themselves.  In  his  last  act  of  family  worship,  he  read 
the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins,  a  favorite  theme  with 
him,  and  engaged  in  prayer.  When  informed  by  his 
physicians  that  he  could  not  live,  he  replied,  "  My  lamp 
is  trimmed  and  burning."  He  was  confined  to  his  bed 
but  three  days.  His  death  took  place  at  the  old  home- 
stead, near  Middlesex,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  on  the  20th 
day  of  November,  1857,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  fifty-eighth  of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Satterfield  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  IMiss  Polly  Orbison  of  Washington  County,  to 
whom  he  was  married  October  28,  1800.  She  died 
July  23,  1802. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1804,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Ann  Gibson,  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  Ne- 
shannock.  She  died  September  12,  1815,  leaving  five 
children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

His  third  marriage  was  with  Miss  Sarah  Mead,  a 
daughter  of  General  Mead,  of  Meadville,  Pa.  This 
marriage  took  place  September  3,  1816.  She  died 
May  22, 1823,  leaving  one  son  and  one  daughter.  This 
son  was  Rev.  Mead  Satterfield,  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Harrisville  and  Amity,  who  died  in  1855.  The 
daughter,  Mrs.  William  Mathers,  now  resides  at  New 
Lisbon,  Ohio.  Besides  the  latter,  two  children  by  a 
former  marriage  still  survive. 

As  a  preacher  Mr.  Satterfield  was  plain  and  practical. 


202  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Attempting  no  flights  of  fancy,  his  sermons  were  full 
of  the  marrow  and  fatness  of  the  gospel.  He  was  a 
most  godly  and'exemplary  man.  The  reputation  he  has 
left  behind,  is  that  of  sterling  integrity,  unvarnished 
truth,  and  unblemished  purity  of  heart  and  life.  When 
a  question  of  veracity  would  arise  amongst  the  neigh- 
bors, it  was  a  common  remark  to  say,  "  It  is  just  as 
true  as  though  Clergy  Satterfield  had  said  it."  This 
application  "  clergy,"  was  one  generally  applied  to  him 
by  his  old  neighbors. 

He  was  most  emphatically  a  man  of  prayer.  During 
the  last  years  of  his  life,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  rising 
early  to  engage  in  secret  prayer.  Indeed,  his  children 
say  that  he  often  spent  the  greater  portion  of  the  day 
in  private  prayer.  He  walked  with  God  here,  and 
could  well  say  at  the  last,  "  the  lamp  is  trimmed  and 
ready." 

He  was  a  systematic  man.  He  always  read  the 
Scriptures  in  course,  and  as  soon  as  he  had  read  the 
last  chapter  of  Revelation,  commenced  again  at  Gen- 
esis. 

On  occasion  of  the  death  of  his  son  Mead,  he  writes 
to  his  children :  "  When  I  see  an  old  tree  standing 
almost  alone  in  the  field,  whose  limbs  have  fallen  off 
one  after  another,  till  almost  all  have  fallen,  it  appears 
a  fit  emblem  of  my  condition,  and  I  sometimes  wonder 
that  the  old  stock  does  not  tumble  to  the  earth.  What 
the  allwise  and  gracious  God  intends  by  it,  I  know  not 
now,  but  I  am  certain  I  shall  know  hereafter." 

He  knows  now,  for  he  looks  upon  the  face  of  God, 
and  the  lessons  of  life  are  all  clear,  and  its  mysteries 
all  explained. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  203 

(7.)  WILLIAM  WYLIE,  D.  D. 

1800-1858. 

Mr.  Wylie  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  Although  not  mentioned  in  the 
act  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia  erecting  the  Presbytery, 
he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  between 
this  act  and  the  time  appointed  for  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  a  half  brother  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wylie, 
D.  D.,  late  of  Philadelphia.  At  an  early  period  his 
father  removed  to  the  West,  and  settled  in  Washington 
County,  Pa.  Here  William  Wylie  was  born  on  the 
10th  day  of  July,  1776.  His  mother  was  a  woman  of 
piety  and  prayer,  and  her  influence  was  most  blessed  on 
the  young  mind  of  her  son.  While  quite  young  in 
years  he  became  the  subject  of  deep  religious  impres- 
sions, and  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the  Lord. 
Soon  after  this  he  turned  his  thoughts  toward  prepara- 
tion for  the  gospel  ministry.  After  engaging  for  a  time 
in  study  at  home,  he  repaired  to  Washington,  in  his  own 
county,  to  attend  a  Latin  and  Mathematical  School, 
taught  by  Pev.  Thaddeus  Dodd.  After  this  he  went  to 
Cannonsburg  to  attend  the  Academy  in  that  place.  Here 
he  pursued  his  studies  for  some  time.  He  was  now 
induced  to  go  to  the  State  of  Kentucky,  with  the  view 
of  teaching  to  replenish  his  treasury,  and  at  the  same 
time  continuing  his  studies  as  opportunity  might  offer. 
In  this  new  State,  he  remained  for  a  number  of  years, 
completing  his  classical  studies,  and  engaging  in  theo- 
logical study,  until  in  due  time  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  West  Lexington. 

Soon  after  this,  and  during  the  year  1800,  he  returned 


204  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

to  his  home  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  began  to 
itinerate  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio, 
extending  at  that  time  from  the  Ohio  River  to  Lake 
Erie.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  as  a 
licentiate  from  the  Presbytery  of  West  Lexington,  on 
the  2d  day  of  March,  1802,  received  calls  from  the 
congregations  of  Upper  and  Lower  Sandy ,^  and  Fair- 
field, accepted  the  same,  and  was  ordained  and  installed 
their  pastor  on  the  5th  of  the  same  month.  At  the 
same  meeting  he,  with  six  other  members  of  Presbytery, 
were  dismissed  to  constitute  the  new  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

Mr.  Wylie's  field  was  a  large  one,  requiring  great 
labor  in  pastoral  visitation,  and  his  salary  but  slen- 
der, even  for  those  times.  Failure  of  health,  and  dis- 
couragement in  his  labor,  induced  him  to  think  of 
seeking  a  new  field.  Although  his  pastorate  had  been 
one  of  usefulness  and  success,  yet  there  were  causes 
that  led  to  the  conviction  that  the  path  of  duty  led  else- 
where. Accordingly  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held 
December  5,  1804,  lie  asked  for  the  dissolution  of  the 
pastoral  relation.  The  reasons  given  were,  "  That  said 
congregations  had  not  fulfilled  their  contracts  with  him  ; 
that  he  could  not  have  a  support  from  them  for  his  fam- 
ily ;  and  that  considering  the  weak  state  of  his  bodily 
health,  he  considered  it  to  be  his  duty  to  leave  them." 
The  congregations  were  heard  at  full  length,  when 
Presbytery  granted  his  request  and  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved.  At  the  same  meeting  he  received  a  dis- 
mission from  the  Presbytery,  to  connect  himself  with 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

On  the  6th  day  of  February,  1805,  he  was  received  as 
a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  accepted 
calls  to   the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations   of 

1  Now  Georgetown  and  Mill  Creek. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  205 

Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill.  His  ministry  in  these 
churches  continued  for  about  eleven  years,  with  a  com- 
fortable degree  of  success.  The  congregations  had, 
some  years  before,  passed  through  a  season  of  revival, 
and  a  reaction  had  taken  place,  throwing  many  obsta- 
cles in  his  way.  Many  had  been  received  into  the 
churches,  as  is  usually  the  case  at  such  times,  who  had 
no  root  in  themselves,  and  soon  withered  away ;  and 
the  great  Adversary  threw  the  apple  of  discord  into  the 
congregations,  and  troubled  the  camp. 

In  the  spring  of  1816,  Mr.  Wylie  asked  the  Presby- 
tery to  dismiss  him  from  his  united  charge,  when  he 
removed  to  Uniontown,  the  county-seat  of  Fayette 
County.  At  this  time  there  was  no  actual  church  or- 
ganization in  Uniontown.  The  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  were  considered  as  belonging  either 
to  Laurel  Hill  or  Tent  churches,  which  had  been  organ- 
ized in  the  vicinity.  And  during  Mr.  Wylie's  period  of 
labor  there,  there  was  no  organization  formed.  The 
Tent  Church  was  considered  as  embracing  the  town 
within  its  borders. 

During  his  ministry,  Mr.  Wylie  preached  both  in  the 
Tent  Church  and  in  town,  and  administered  the  ordi- 
nances in  both  places.  The  elders  lived  in  the  coun- 
try, but  met  as  a  session  in  both  places,  as  it  proved 
to  be  convenient  and  necessary.  In  this  way  the  entire 
charge  came  naturally  to  be  known  as  the  congregation 
of  Uniontown.^  It  was  only  after  the  lapse  of  two 
years  from  Mr.  Wylie's  departure  from  Uniontown,  that 
a  separate  congregation  was  organized. 

In  Uniontown  the  labors  of  Mr.  Wylie  were  eminently 
blessed.  The  state  of  religion  when  he  came  there  was 
not  only  languishing,  but  there  was  much  opposition  to 
1  Dr.  Joseph  Smith. 


206  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

religion  itself.  There  was  a  practical  infidelity  abroad, 
especially  amongst  professional  men,  that  was  exercis- 
ing a  most  baleful  influence  upon  the  young  men  of  the 
community.  The  influence  of  Mr.  Wylie  was  most 
beneficial  in  removing  this  influence,  and  introducing 
a  more  hopeful  spirit  in  its  stead.  This  very  class  of 
men  rallied  around  him  and  made  his  cause  their  own. 
Many  of  them  became  members  of  his  Bible-class,  and 
eventually  of  the  church.  The  tide  of  religious  influ- 
ence set  in  strongly,  and  there  was  an  entire  change  in 
the  prevailing  feeling  and  practice.  He  preached  in 
the  orchards  and  groves,  and  sometimes  in  the  Court- 
house, and  wrought  so  zealously  and  faithfully,  that 
when  he  left  the  place  there  were  the  elements  out  of 
which  a  strong  and  growing  church  was  organized 

From  Uniontown  he  removed  in  1823,  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  Wheeling,  Va.  Here  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  of  Washington,  being  received 
October  9,  1823.  By  this  Presbytery  he  is  reported 
for  many  years  as  stated  supply  at  Wheeling  and  Short 
Creek,  or  West  Liberty.  The  state  of  affairs  at 
Wheeling  was  not  favorable  to  successful  labor.  It  was 
then  but  a  small  town,  with  two  ministers  laboring  in 
common,  in  town  and  country.  Congregations  are  not 
perfect,  ministers  are  not  infallible.  Stars  become  pale 
before  the  rising  sun.  So,  although  there  was  a  very 
strong  influence  exerted  to  induce  Mr.  Wylie  to  re- 
main, he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  retire  from  the  field. 

On  the  2d  day  of  October,  1832,  he  was  dismissed  to 
connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Lancaster,  now 
called  Zanesville.  Here  he  accepted  a  call  to  Newark, 
Licking  County,  Ohio.  In  this  place  he  continued  to 
labor  during  the  remainder  of  his  pastoral  life.  He 
was  a  useful  man  here,  not  only  to  the  general  cause  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  207 

religion,  but  to  that  of  Presbyterianism.  In  fact  he  had 
that  peculiar  faculty  of  making  his  impression  deeply 
and  broadly  upon  every  community  in  the  midst  of 
which  he  had  his  abode.  And  this  impression  was 
always  on  the  side  of  truth  and  righteousness. 

In  1854,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  dismissed  from 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of  Newark,  although 
he  did  not  remove  from  the  place.  The  infirmities  of 
age  were  upon  him,  and  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  retire  and 
give  place  for  a  younger  and  more  vigorous  pastor. 

Mr.,  now  Dr.^  Wylie,  was  twice  married.  His  first 
wife  was  the  fourth  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  of 
Redstone  Presbytery,  and  so  famous  in  its  annals.  At 
the  age  of  ten  she  was  received  into  the  church ;  and 
after  a  life  of  earnest,  consistent  piety,  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus,  some  years  after  her  husband  commenced  his 
labors  in  Newark. 

From  this  marriage  there  were  five  daughters  and 
one  son.  The  son,  the  late  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Wylie,  after 
a  ministry  of  usefulness  and  success,  died  in  Florence, 
Pa.  His  second  wife  was  a  widow  lady,  JVIrs.  Moody, 
like  him*self,  with  a  large  family.  She  was  from  Port- 
land, Me.,  and  had  been  a  member  of  Dr.  Payson's 
church.  This  second  marriage  proved  eminently  a 
happy  one,  and  added  greatly  to  Dr.  Wylie's  comfort 
and  happiness. 

In  the  fall  of  1854,  Dr.  Wylie  went  for  a  time  to  Port 
Gibson,  Mississippi.  Although  this  was  chiefly  for  the 
benefit  of  Mrs.  Wylie's  health,  yet  while  there  she  was 
attacked  by  another  form  of  disease,  and  died  a  peace- 
ful and  happy  death.  This  bereavement  was  a  most 
distressing  one  to  Dr.  Wylie.  He  felt  alone  in  his  old 
age,  and  was  well-nigh  crushed  beneath  the  blow. 

1  Received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  in  1850,  from  Muskingum  College. 


208      ^  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

In  the  following  spring  he  returned  north,  and  took 
up  his  abode  in  Wheeling,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  called  to  join  the  church  triumphant.  Just  before 
leaving  Mississippi,  he  had  fallen  and  fractured  the  bone 
of  his  thigh,  which  rendered  him  a  hopeless  cripple  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was,  while  residing  in 
Wheeling,  frequently  carried  to  different  churches, 
where  he  preached  in  a  sitting  posture,  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction and  edification  of  his  hearers. 

Although  his  afflictions  were  severe  during  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  yet  he  bore  them  with  exemplary  pa- 
tience and  resignation  to  the  Divine  will.  As  the  time 
of  his  departure  approached,  his  faith  and  hope  were 
sensibly  brightened.  He  felt  the  peace  of  God  flowing 
into  his  soul  like  a  river,  and  longed  to  enter  the  rest 
and  peace  of  the  Good  Land.  The  time  for  which  he 
had  watched  and  waited  so  patiently,  came  at  last.  It 
was  on  a  Saturday  morning,  in  the  sweet  month  of 
May,  that  he  was  called  to  go  up  and  spend  the  eternal 
Sabbath  on  Mount  Zion.  His  death  took  place  on  the 
9th  day  of  May,  1858,  just  before  he  had  completed  his 
eighty-second  year. 

As  a  preacher,  Dr.  Wylie  stood  deservedly  high 
amongst  his  contemporaries.  He  was  a  man  of  more 
than  usual  ability.  Indeed,  in  his  power  of  body  and 
mind,  he  had  few  rivals  in  the  faculty  of  stirring  the 
deep  emotions  of  the  heart,  and  leading  the  minds  of 
his  audience  captive  to  his  subject.  An  eminent  min- 
ister in  New  York  testifies  to  his  power  of  eloquence  in 
these  words  :  "  He  was  preaching  at  Chartiers,  on  the 
text,  '  Now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated  both  me  and 
my  father.'  Now  I  have  heard,  within  the  last  ten 
years,  almost  all  our  great  preachers,  of  all  denomina- 
tions, but  never,  to  this  hour,  have  I  heard  a  sermon 


•  BIOGRAPHICAL.  209 

comparable  to  that   of    Dr.   Wylie,   for   overpowering 
grandeur  and  awful  sublimity. 

Says  Dr.  Joseph  Smith,  his  relative,  and  perhaps  bet- 
ter acquainted  with  his  inner  life  than  any  other  par- 
son :  "  His  tall  stature,  his  peculiarly  solemn  and  ex- 
pressive features  and  tones  of  voice,  his  perfectly 
inimitable  tenderness  and  pathos,  mingled  with  great 
personal  dignity,  gave  him  unwonted  power.  The  fer- 
tility of  his  mind,  and  the  rich  exuberance  of  his 
thoughts,  seemed,  at  times,  to  indicate  an  exhaustless 
fountain  of  truth  and  pious  affections  within.  If  any 
other  public  speaker  ever  rose  higher  in  his  wonderful 
flights,  we  can  form  no  conception  of  it." 

Dr.  Wylie  was  eminently  a  social  man.  He  excelled 
as  a  talker.  In  this  most  difficult  and  rare  accom- 
plishment, he  shone  preeminently ;  still  he  had  a  seri- 
ous fault  in  the  matter  of  conversation  —  he  monopo- 
lized the  entire  time.  Others  were  generally  content 
to  sit  by  and  listen,  and  be  amused  and  instructed  and 
edified,  as  the  case  might  be,  by  his  exuberant  flow  of 
words  and  often  sparkling  scintillations  of  thought. 
Perhaps  his  chief  fault  in  speaking  and  preaching  and 
praying  was  indulging  in  strong  figures  and  swelling 
hyperboles,  so  that  there  was  too  great  a  strain  upon 
the  minds  of  the  hearers  in  following  him.  He  did  not 
excel  in  simplicity  and  plainness. 

His  piety  was  sincere  and  earnest.  It  was  of  the 
heart  and  outward  life.  It  was  the  secret  spring  of 
action,  always  operative,  always  effectual  in  toning  down 
the  asperities  of  his  nature,  and  impelling  him  to  con- 
stant effort  in  labor  and  zeal  in  building  up  the  king- 
dom of  Christ. 

His  influence  in  the  community  where  he  lived  was 
most  valuable.     He  was  a  great  leader  of  public  opin- 
14 


210  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

ion,  and  moulded  it  to  his  own  views  and  convictions  of 
right.  Before  him,  vice  in  every  form  stood  abashed. 
The  most  wicked  and  profane  respected  and  reverenced 
him  for  his  truth  and  goodness.  But  with  all  his  calm 
dignity  and  solemn  presence,  there  was  nothing  haughty 
or  repulsive  about  him.  Children  were  attracted  to 
him  by  a  kind  of  magnetism,  that  they  alone  understand 
and  appreciate. 

He  was  a  kind,  sympathizing  pastor.  In  the  time  of 
affliction  and  distress  and  bereavement,  he  was  a  min- 
istering spirit  of  kindness  and  sympathy,  pointing  to  the 
sweet  promises  of  the  gospel,  and  pleading  God's  great 
mercy  and  faithfulness  and  love. 

His  correspondence  shows  that  he  was  a  man  of 
prayer,  and  lived  near  to  God ;  and  that  there  was  a 
gradual  ripening  for  heaven,  as  well  as  a  longing  de- 
sire for  its  blessed  rest. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  frOm  Rev.  Dr. 
Weed  to  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Smith,  sheds  light  on  the 
closing  days  of  his  life :  — 

1.  "  He  spoke  little  of  his  ailments,  but  much  of  the 
love  of  God,  and  of  the  ineffable  consolations  flowing 
from  the  riches  of  Divine  grace,  abounding  to  the  chief 
of  sinners. 

2.  "  His  expressions  were  habitually  characterized  by 
a  childlike  humility,  and  a  filial  confidence  in  God  as 
his  Father  and  Redeemer.  He  seemed  to  enjoy  the 
grace  of  assurance  in  a  high  degree,  and  without  inter- 
mission. 

3.  "  He  was  favored  with  most  exalted  views  of  the 
infinite  perfections  of  God,  and  the  transcendent  glory 
of  the  Lor  '  Jesus  Cbrist.  The  'j  were  the  favorite  and 
absorbing  themes  of  his  discourse. 

4.  "  The  gospel  was  confirmed  in  his  experience  as  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  211 

manifestation  of  the  mercy  of  God.  It  made  him,  in 
despite  of  all  things  else  to  the  contrary,  eminently  a 
hapjoy  man,  and  a  joyful  sufferer.  No  one  could  be 
long  in  his  presence  without  feeling  the  demonstration 
of  the  divinity  of  the  Christian  religion. 

"  Finally,  his  case  was  a  practical  refutation  of  the 
charge  so  often  reiterated  —  that  Calvinistic  views  of 
theology  are  adverse  to  cheerful  and  joyous  experience, 
that  they  sour  the  heart  and  overhang  the  mind  with 
gloom.  Yet  these  were  thoroughly  his  views,  and  it  was 
from  these  he  derived  his  richest  and  sweetest  enjoy- 
ments. I  will  only  add,  that  he  seemed  to  us  all  as 
verily  '  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of 
faith)  " 

(8.)     JOHN   BOYD. 

1801-1816. 

John  Boyd  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Fulton) 
Boyd,  and  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  year  1768.  His 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country  in  the  year  1772,  and 
having  settled  in  the  bounds  of  Salem,  Westmoreland 
County,  Pa.,  his  father  became  a  ruling  elder  in  that 
church.  His  was  a  priestly  family,  having  no  less  than 
four  sons  in  the  gospel  ministry  —  John,  Abraham  (9), 
Benjamin  (17),  and  James  (21).  The  eldest  two  were 
born  in  Ireland,  the  younger  two  in  this  country.  But 
little  is  known  of  the  early  life  of  John  Boyd.  No 
doubt  he  worked  patiently  on  the  farm  during  his  first 
years,  and  was  content  with  what  Providence  sent  him. 
His  studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  John 
McPherrin  (16),  who  v.as  his  pastor.  How  long  these 
studies  were  prosecuted  is  not  known.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
on  the   23d   day  of  April,   1801.      For  one   year  he 


212  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

preached  as  a  licentiate,  most  probably  within  what  was 
soon  to  be  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  held 
on  the  13th  of  April,  1802,  he  presented  a  dismission 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  was  taken  under 
the  care  of  the  new  Presbytery.  He  had  already  ac- 
cepted calls  from  the  congregations  of  Slate  Lick  and 
Union,  in  what  is  now  Armstrong  County,  Pa.  John 
vi.  53,  was  assigned  him  as  a  subject  for  a  trial  sermon 
in  view  of  ordination.  His  brother  Abraham  was  re- 
ceived under  the  care  of  Presbytery  at  the  same  time. 

Mr.  Boyd's  ordination  took  place  at  Union,  on  the 
16th  day  of  June,  1802.  In  the  ordination  exercises, 
William  Wick  (2),  preached  the  sermon  from  2  Corin- 
thians iv.  5,  and  Samuel  Tait  (3),  delivered  the  charges. 
This  pastoral  relation  continued  until  April  17,  1810, 
when,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  relieved. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  May, 
1809,  there  occurs  this  record  in  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Missions,  in  the  recommendation  of  the  ap- 
pointment of  missionaries,  "  The  Rev.  John  Boyd,  a 
missionary  for  two  months  on  the  head-waters  of  Alle- 
ghany, and  the  borders  of  Lake  Erie." 

For  a  short  time,  Mr.  Boyd  supplied  the  churches  of 
Amity  and  West  Liberty,  but  his  health  having  failed, 
he  felt  constrained  to  seek  some  more  favorable  loca- 
tion, and  was  accordingly  dismissed  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie  to  that  of  Lancaster  (now  Zanesville),  on 
the  4th  day  of  October,  1810.  Shortly  after  this  he 
was  preaching  at  Wills  Creek,  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  State  of  Ohio.  Afterwards  he  became  pastor  of 
the  churches  of  Red  Oak  and  Strait  Creek,  in  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Chilicothe.  It  is  said  that 
the  cause  of  his  leaving  these  churches,  was  a  difficulty 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  213 

that  grew  out  of  the  "  Sunday  Mail "  question.  He 
signed  a  petition  for,  and  advocated  the  cause  of,  stop- 
ping the  mails  on  the  Sabbath.  For  this,  he  was 
branded  by  some  of  his  elders  and  people  as  a  traitor. 

He  next  settled  as  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Bethel,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Oxford,  and  was  said  to  be 
the  first  Presbyterian  preacher  west  of  the  Miami 
River.  But  his  ministry  here  was  brief.  Five  months 
after  his  settlement,  he  was  attacked  by  bilious  fever, 
and  died  at  Indian  Creek,  near  Hamilton,  Ohio,  on  the 
20th  day  of  August,  1816,  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  sixteenth  of  his  ministry.  "  Just  be- 
fore his  departure,"  says  a  writer  in  the  "  Weekly  Re- 
corder," "  he  was  blessed  with  a  transporting  view  of 
the  excellence  of  the  gospel."  His  remains  lie  at  rest 
in  the  grave-yard  of  the  Bethel  Church.  On  the  Sab- 
bath evening,  just  before  his  departure,  some  of  his 
neighbors  having  gathered  in  to  see  him,  he  raised  up 
on  his  couch  and  thus  addressed  them :  "  I  have  been 
in  congregations  where  I  was  afraid  to  preach  Christ, 
but  if  all  the  world  were  here,  I  would  speak  to  them 
of  the  preciousness  of  the  gospel,  and  the  ability  and 
willingness  of  Christ  to  save  all  who  come  to  him." 

Mr.  Boyd  left  a  widow  and  eight  children,  four  sons 
and  four  daughters.  His  widow  died,  October  12, 
1840.  His  eldest  son  James  died  in  his  twenty-sixth 
year,  just  as  he  was  about  entering  the  ministry. 

(9.)     ABRAHAM  BOYD. 

1800-1854. 

This  was  the  second  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Fulton) 
Boyd,  and  was  likewise  born  in  Ireland,  in  December, 
1770.    He  was  but  three  years  of  age  when  his  parents 


214  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

emigrated  to  this  country.  In  connection  with  this  emi- 
gration, he  frequently  related  the  following  circumstance, 
related  by  his  father,  as  illustrating  the  particular  provi- 
dence of  God  towards  his  children  :  When  about  leav- 
ing Ireland  for  America,  having  reached  the  port  from 
which  they  were  to  sail,  it  was  discovered  that  the  two 
little  sons,  John  and  Abraham,  had  the  small-pox.  The 
officers  of  the  ship  refused  to  receive  them  on  board, 
and  sailed  without  them.  The  ship  foundered  at  sea. 
The  Boyd  family  took  the  next  vessel  and  arrived  in 
safety. 

Abraham  Boyd  pursued  his  studies  at  the  Cannons- 
burg  Academy,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
on  the  25th  day  of  June,  1800,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  at 
its  first  meeting,  April  13,  1802,  and  having  accepted 
calls  from  the  congregations  of  Bull  Creek  and  Middle- 
sex, in  Armstrong  County,  Pa.,  he  was  assigned  James 
iv.  17,  as  the  subject  of  a  sermon  as  part  of  trials  for 
ordination.  This  service  took  place  at  Bull  Creek,  on 
the  17th  of  June,  1802.  Rev.  John  McMillan,  being 
present  as  a  corresponding  member  of  Presbytery, 
preached  on  the  occasion,  on  Mark  xvi.  15,  16,  and  de- 
livered the  charges.  This  relation  continued  at  Mid- 
dlesex until  1817,  and  Bull  Creek  until  June  25,  1833. 
After  leaving  Middlesex,  he  gave  half  his  time  to  Deer 
Creek,  from  1817  to  1821. 

An  anecdote  of  Mr.  Boyd  is  related  in  connection 
with  his  early  ministry.  He  was  passing  through  the 
woods  on  the  Sabbath,  on  his  way  to  preach.  In  the 
depth  of  the  forest  he  encountered  an  Indian  tricked 
out  in  his  feathers  and  war  paint.  He  saw  that  he  was 
observed,  and  to  flee  would  be  in  vain,  so  he  knelt  down 
at  the  roots  of  a  large  tree,  and  in  full  view  of  the  sav- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  215 

age,  and  began  to  pray,  expecting  each  moment  to  be 
pierced  by  an  arrow.  When  he  arose  from  his  knees, 
the  Indian  had  departed,  and  he  was  safe.-^ 

Mr.  Boyd  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  residing  upon  his 
farm,  preaching  the  gospel  when  able,  until  the  close  of 
his  life.  His  death  took  place  on  his  farm,  near  Taren- 
tum,  Pa.,  on  the  14th  day  of  August,  1854,  in  the  eighty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fifty-fifth  of  his  minis- 
try. The  day  previous  to  his  death,  he  sent  for  his 
only  surviving  sister,  saying  that  he  expected  soon  to 
die,  and  wished  to  see  her.  She  came  the  same  even- 
ing. He  was  in  his  usual  health,  although  he  had  been 
declining  for  some  time.  The  next  morning,  appearing 
as  well  as  usual,  he  attended  to  family  worship,  select- 
ing from  Watts'  Version,  Psalm  39,  ."  d  part  — 
"  God  of  my  life  look  gently  down,"  etc., 

and  sung  with  a  cheerful  voice  throughout.  In  half  an 
hour  from  this  time,  as  he  sat  conversing  with  his  sister, 
he  received  a  stroke  of  paralysis  and  never  spoke  after- 
ward.    He  died  the  following  night. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Eleanor  Hallis,  of  Washington  County,  Pa.  The  mar- 
riage took  place  March  29,  1798.  By  her  he  had 
nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three  sons.  Mrs.  Boyd 
died  in  the  year  1816.  In  the  next  year,  he  married 
Mrs.  Scott.  By  her  he  had  three  children,  two  daugh- 
ters and  one  son.    The  second  Mrs.  Boyd  died  in  1848. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  a  plain,  practical  man.  His  aspirations 
were  simple  and  limited  to  the  one  great  matter  — 
preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  recommending  it  to 
his  people.  Like  nearly  all  of  the  pioneer  ministers, 
he  labored  on  the  farm  as  well  as  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel. There  were  two  reasons  for  this:  the  people 
1  Rev.  R.  Lea. 


216  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

were  poor  and  could  not  raise  a  sufficient  salary  for 
their  ministers,  and  in  the  early  days  land  was  cheap 
and  easily  obtained. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  a  spiritually  minded  man,  an  earnest 
preacher,  and  a  strict  disciplinarian.  He  was  also  a 
man  of  great  power  in  prayer,  and  seemed  to  grow  in 
grace  as  he  grew  in  years. 

(10.)  WILLIAM  WOOD. 

1801-1839. 

William  Wood,  son  of  Samuel  and  Isabella  (San- 
key)  Wood,  was  born  in  York  County,  Pa.,  on  the  27th 
day  of  March,  1776.  Samuel  Wood,  his  father,  was 
born  in  London,  England,  in  1749,  came  to  America 
in  1768,  and  married  Mrs.  Isabella  Sankey,  in  York 
County,  Pa.  He  died  in  Butler  County,  in  1817,  leav- 
ing four  children,  William,  Samuel,  Benjamin,  and  Isa- 
bella. Of  these,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the 
oldest.  Of  his  early  life  little  is  at  present  known.  In 
due  course  of  time  we  find  him  at  the  Cannonsburg 
Academy,  enjoying  what  advantages  he  might  obtain 
there.  And  then,  as  a  matter  of  course,  he  is  soon 
seeking  Dr.  McMillan's  log-cabin,  and  studying  theol- 
ogy. From  the  scanty  library,  and  the  doctor's  lec- 
tures, he  is  seeking  furniture  for  the  great  work.  No 
doubt,  with  others  he  copied,  with  patient  labor  and 
pains,  those  lectures  that  were  the  theological  library 
of  so  many  of  the  earlier  ministers  of  the  West,  and 
which  contained  the  very  marrow  of  divinity.  Many  of 
those  old  manuscript  systems  have  come  down  to  our 
day  and  are  worthy  of  being  read,  not  only  by  the  the- 
ological student,  but  by  the  pastor  of  years. 

Mr.  Wood  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  217 

as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry,  on  the  26th  day 
of  December,  1800,  and  on  the  29th  day  of  October, 
1801,  hcensed  to  preach  the  gospel.  The  field  was 
large  ;  the  harvest  inviting,  and  the  call  for  laborers 
earnest;  and  having  spent  the  winter  amongst  the 
vacant  churches  and  missionary  pointy  he  was  dis- 
missed to  put  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie.  By  this  Presbytery  he  was  received  on 
the  20th  day  of  April,  1802.  Having  accepted  calls 
from  the  congregations  of  Plaingrove  and  Center,  in 
Mercer  County,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor 
over  these  churches  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  at 
Plaingrove,  on  the  3d  day  of  November,  1802.  The 
trial  discourse  was  on  Titus  ii.  11,  12.  Rev.  Robert 
Lee  (5)  preached  on  the  occasion,  on  Mark  xvi.  15,  16, 
and  Dr.  McMillan,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio,  who  was  present  as  a  corresponding  member,  pre- 
sided and  delivered  the  charges. 

In  these  churches  Mr.  Wood  labored  earnestly.  He 
was  dismissed  from  the  charge  of  Center  on  the  24th 
day  of  August,  1808,  after  a  pastorate  of  six  years,  and 
from  that  of  Plaingrove  on  the  7th  day  of  October, 
1816,  after  a  pastorate  of  fourteen  years.  These  pas- 
torates terminated  his  labors  in  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

On  the  1st  day  of  April,  1817,  he  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Hartford  (Beaver),  being  prepared 
to  accept  calls  from  the  congregations  of  Hopewell  and 
Neshannock.  Over  these  churches  he  was  installed 
pastor  on  the  22d  day  of  October,  1817.  At  Hopewell 
he  labored  for  eleven  years,  being  dismissed  on  the  25th 
day  of  June,  1828. 

Mr.  Wood  died  at  Utica,  Licking  County,  Ohio,  on 
the  31st  day  of  July,  1839,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  thirty- ninth  of  his  ministry.     He  was 


218  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  in  many  a 
more  favorable  sphere  of  labor  would  have  shone  as  a 
preacher ;  but  poverty  and  untoward  circumstances 
kept  him  down,  and  his  light  was  buried  up  in  compar- 
ative obscurity.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Margaret  Donald,  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  May  17, 
1798.  They  had  twelve  children,  two  of  whom  were 
physicians,  the  elder,  John  D.,  settled  in  Franklin,  Pa., 
the  younger  in  Pulaski,  Pa.,  both  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Wood  died  at  Utica,  Ohio,  April  20,  1843. 

(11.)  JOSEPH  BADGER. 

1786-1846. 

The  name  of  Joseph  Badger  will  long  be  remem- 
bered in  Eastern  Ohio.  He  was  the  great  missionary 
of  the  Western  Reserve,  and  one  of  the  pioneers  to. 
regions  further  west.  He  was  a  most  remarkable  man, 
eminently  a  man  for  the  times  in  which  he  lived.  God 
chose  him  in  the  furnace  of  affliction,  and  prepared 
him  as  he  did  Israel,  by  wandering  in  the  desert,  for  the 
great  work  that  was  before  him. 

Joseph  Badger  was  born  in  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  on 
the  28th  day  of  February,  1757.  He  was  the  son  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Langdon)  Badger,  and  a  descendant, 
in  the  fourth  generation,  of  Giles  Badger,  who  emi- 
grated from  England  about  the  year  1635.^  His  pa- 
rents were  pious,  and  their  son  was  carefully  educated 
at  the  fireside  in  the  principles  of  religion.  Here,  no 
doubt,  the  seed  was  sown,  that  having  lain  for  a  long 
time  dormant,  eventually  germinated  and  produced  a 
bountiful  harvest. 

When  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed 
1  Sprague's  Annals^  iii.  473. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  219 

to  Berkshire  Coimty,  Mass.,  a  place  at  that  time  without 
schools  or  other  means  of  intellectual  culture,  and  so 
most  unfavorable  to  the  mental  culture  of  the  future 
pioneer  missionary.  The  straitened  circumstances  of 
his  parents  too,  induced  the  necessity  of  labor  and 
toil;  yet  withal  his  natural  genius  was  stimulated  to 
invention,  and  the  way  was  opened  for  a  preparation 
most  useful  to  him  in  after  life. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the  army,  just  three 
weeks  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  and  received  his 
first  lessons  in  military  life.  His  whole  life  was  to  be 
one  of  service.  During  his  first  two  years,  he  was  an 
attendant  upon  the  chaplain  of  his  regiment.  He  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  afterward  for 
some  time  with  General  Arnold  in  Canada.  In  this 
campaign  he  served  as  usual  in  divers  capacities.  In 
the  hospitals  he  was  an  excellent  nurse  ;  in  the  commis- 
sary department  he  was  an  accomplished  baker ;  when 
the  master  of  transportation  required  it,  he  could  re- 
pair the  broken  wagons,  and  when  the  noise  and  shock 
of  battle  prevailed,  he  could  handle  the  musket  with 
energy  and  precision.  In  this  service  he  was  attacked 
with  small-pox,  and  afterwards  with  chills  and  fever,  yet 
through  all  his  exposures  and  dangers  he  was  merci- 
fully preserved. 

In  two  years  from  the  period  of  his  enlistment,  he 
was  discharged  and  returned  to  his  friends.  Here  he 
found  an  expedition  organizing  to  pursue  the  British 
troops  that  had  two  days  before  destroyed  Danbury.  Of 
course  young  Badger  joined  this  expedition,  and  par- 
ticipated in  two  sharp  engagements,  when  he  returned 
to  his  friends.  Shortly  after  this  he  enlisted  again, 
and  was  appointed  orderly  sergeant.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term,  he  found  that  the  two  hundred  dollars 


220  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

of  Continental  money  that  he  had  saved  was  so  depre- 
ciated that  it  would  not  buy  him  a  suit  of  clothes.^  But 
this  did  not  distress  him.  He  at  once  engaged  in 
weaving,  continuing  the  business  until  he  had  woven 
sixteen  hundred  yards  of  cloth. 

His  mind  now  thirsted  for  knowledge,  and  he  deter- 
mined to  spend  some  time  in  the  acquisition  of  the 
elementary  branches  of  study,  spelling,  writing,  and 
arithmetic,  intending  afterward  to  return  to  the  army. 

There  were  no  schools  in  the  neighborhood,  and  he 
put  himself  under  the  instruction  of  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Day,  father  of  President  Day  of  Yale  College,  and 
entered  his  family  as  a  boarder.  He  studied  during 
the  winter,  and  resorted  to  the  loom  in  the  spring  to 
recruit  his  exhausted  finances. 

But  a  change  came  over  his  mind  here  that  had  a 
most  important  influence  on  his  future  plans.  His  mind 
became  deeply  impressed  with  religious  truth.  There 
was  no  great  distress  or  excitement,  but  a  gradual 
change,  that  seemed  to  operate  upon  his  heart,  until  he 
believed  he  had  experienced  a  thorough  change  of 
heart.  The  light  was  faint  at  first,  but  continued  to 
increase  until  his  soul  was  filled  with  peace. 

All  thoughts  of  returning  to  the  army  were  aban- 
doned, and  having  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the 
church  of  his  patron,  he  entered  upon  a  course  of  study 
preparatory  to  entering  college.  His  progress  was  slow, 
and  although  well-nigh  discouraged  by  the  narrowness 
of  his  means,  he  yet  persevered,  sometimes  weaving, 
and  sometimes  engaged  in  teaching  school.  "  Yet 
still,"  he  says,  "  I  dug  away  like  a  miner  after  gold." 

With  frequent  interruptions  from  sickness,  and  labor- 
ing for  his  livelihood,  he  at  length  entered  Yale  Col- 

1  Gillett's  History,  ii.  132. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  221 

lege  in  1781,  as  a  Freshman.  During  his  first  term 
he  taught  a  singing  school,  and  was  so  much  discour- 
aged that  he  notified  President  Stiles  that  he  would  be 
obliged  to  leave  college.  "O  no,  Badger,"  was  his 
reply,  "  you  must  not  leave.  You  may  go  and  teach, 
study  and  earn,  and  pay  your  bills  as  well  as  you  can." 

So  the  earnest,  patient  man  struggled  on.  Some- 
times he  tauofht  school.  Sometimes  he  rungr  the  Col- 
lege  bell,  and  performed  other  labors  about  the  Hall 
until  his  Senior  year.  During  this  year  he  constructed 
2i  planetarium,  that  cost  him  three  months'  labor,  and 
for  which  the  College  authorities  gave  him  an  order  on 
the  steward  for  one  hundred  dollars.  He  was  gradu- 
ated in  the  fall  of  1783. 

The  next  year  he  taught  a  school,  and  studied  theol- 
ogj'  under  the  venerable  Rev.  Mark  Leavenworth,  and 
in  due  course  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
New  Haven  Association.  During  the  next  winter  he 
supplied  the  church  of  Plymouth,  Conn.  On  the  24th 
day  of  October,  1787,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Blandford,  Conn.  He  was  pastor  of  this 
church  thirteen  years,  and  was  dismissed  October  24, 
1800,  to  accept  the  commission  of  the  Connecticut  Mis- 
sionary Society,  to  labor  as  a  missionary  in  the  Western 
Reserve  of  Ohio,  or  New  Connecticut,  as  it  was  then 
called. 

He  set  out  on  his  westward  journey  on  the  loth  day 
of  November,  alone  and  on  horseback.  He  was  some- 
times detained  for  days  by  the  rain  and  snow.  His 
progress  was  slow,  from  the  badness  of  the  roads, 
which,  as  he  approached  the  close  of  his  journey,  were 
mere  bridle-paths,  and  for  nearly  two  hundred  miles 
he  was  obliged  to  lead  his  horse.  He  was  obliged  to 
swim    the   Mahoning   River   in   Ohio,  but    at   length 


222  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

reached  Yoimgstown,  and  found  a  hospitable  reception 
with  the  Presbyterian  pastor,  Rev.  William  Wick^  (2). 

Here  commenced  a  series  of  labors  leading  him  in 
every  direction,  where  the  cabin  of  a  settler  was  to  be 
sought,  or  where  a  path  was  to  be  found  through  the 
woods.  The  winter  was  spent  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  Reserve  ;  but  in  the  spring  he  extended  his  travels 
east  as  far  as  Hudson,  thence  north  to  Cleveland.  By 
request  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  he  went  in  company 
with  Rev.  Thomas  Edgar  Hughes  (1),  as  far  as  Mau- 
mee  and  Detroit,  to  consider  the  propriety  of  establish- 
ing a  mission  amongst  the  Indians.  In  this  expedition 
he  was  accompanied  by  George  Blue  Jacket,  the  son  of 
an  Indian  chiefs  On  his  way  he  preached  to  the  Dela- 
wares,  through  an  interpreter.  On  his  journey  home- 
ward, he  suffered  great  hardships.  Exposure  and 
privation  had  reduced  him  to  such  a  condition  that  he 
could  hardly  cling  to  his  horse.  Taking  calomel  one 
day  and  an  emetic  the  next  for  five  days  in  succession, 
he  was  finally  so  much  reduced  that  he  could  not  mount 
his  horse  without  assistance.  Still  he  pushed  onward, 
and  at  length  reached  Hudson,  Ohio,  having  subsisted 
for  two  days  on  chestnuts. 

Having  been  absent  from  New  England  about  a 
year,  he  returned  to  Connecticut.  "On  his  journey  home- 
ward he  was  taken  ill  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  with  fever,  and 
reduced  to  the  very  borders  of  the  grave.  From  this 
he  recovered  partially,  and  after  other  attacks  at  length 
reached  his  home  and  family.  Here  he  made  a  report 
of  his  missionary  operations  to  the  Board,  and  made 
arrangements  for  removing  his  family  to  the  Western 
Reserve. 

This  journey  was  commenced  on  the  23d  day  of 
1  Gillett's  History  ii.  134.  2  Dr.  Elliott. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  228 

February,  1802.  It  was  a  most  unseasonable  period  to 
undertake  a  journey  of  four  or  five  hundred  miles. 
Yet  it  was  undertaken  in  faith  and  hope.  The  outfit 
was  a  four-horse  wagon,  in  which  were  stowed  his  wife 
and  six  children,  together  with  their  household  effects. 
Soon  the  missionary  family  encountered  snow,  that  in- 
creased in  depth  until  his  wagon  wheels  became  solid 
with  snow  and  mud,  and  they  were  fain  to  construct  a 
rude  sled,  on  which  the  wheels  were  laid,  having  been 
taken  from  the  axles,  and  upon  these  the  wagon  body 
w^as  placed  and  the  journey  resumed.  At  Troy,  N.  Y., 
the  snow  failed,  the  sled  was  discarded,  and  the  wagon 
restored  to  its  original  condition.  But  the  mud  was 
fearful.  Onward  the  noble  horses  toiled,  one  accident 
after  another  happened,  until  finally  the  forward  axle- 
tree  broke,  bringing  them  to  an  unwilling  halt.  There 
was  no  wagon-maker  near,  nor  any  other  mechanic  that 
was  available.  So  remembering  his  war  experience,  he 
collected  what  tools  were  at  hand,  procured  a  piece  of 
timber,  and  made  a  new  axle  with  his  own  hands.  His 
next  accident  was  the  breaking  of  his  king-bolt,  re- 
placed at  an  expense  of  two  dollars.  He  reached  Aus- 
tenburg,  Ohio,  at  length,  after  a  journey  of  two  months. 
Here  he  had  organized  a  church  during  his  first  tour, 
October  1,  1801,  consisting  of  eight  male  and  six 
female  members. 

At  this  place,  he  prepared  to  pitch  his  tent.  He 
built  a  rude  cabin  of  logs,  found  sufficient  flooring  for 
it  to  spread  their  Connecticut  beds  furnished  by  good 
mother  Noble,  but  without  table  or  chairs,  or  even  a 
door  or  chinking  between  the  logs. 

But  the  missionary  had  not  come  to  finish  off  houses 
or  seek  personal  comfort,  but  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
those  that  were  beyond.     So  he  left  his  family  to  plant 


224  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

the  garden  and  the  corn-field,  and  set  out  on  a  mission- 
ary tour  that  continued  three  months,  when  he  returned 
home.  These  missionary  tours  continued  with  little 
cessation  until  April,  1803.  It  was  on  April  13,  ]803, 
that  Mr.  Badger  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie.  The  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  would  indi- 
cate that  he  was  received  as  a  Congregational  minister. 
The  minute  is  to  this  effect :  "  Rev.  Joseph  Badger,  a 
missionary  from  Connecticut,  having  expressed  a  desire 
to  join  this  Presbytery,  and  having  given  satisfaction  of 
his  regular  standing  in  the  body  to  which  he  formerly 
belonged,  was  received,  but  still  retains  his  privilege 
of  riding  under  the  direction  of  the  Connecticut  Mis- 
sionary Society."  ^ 

He  is  seldom  found  at  meetings  of  Presbytery,  during 
the  six  years  he  continued  a  member.  His  time  was 
taken  up  in  his  missionary  tours,  and  he  depended  on 
his  brethren  to  take  care  of  the  interests  of  the  church 
at  home. 

About  this  time,  a  letter  was  received  from  the  Mis- 
sionary Board  in  Connecticut,  informing  him  that  his 
salary  was  reduced  to  six  dollars  per  week.  At  this 
Mr.  Badger  felt  greatly  aggrieved.  His  whole  time 
was  devoted  to  his  missionary  work,  and  even  with  this 
small  pittance  he  could  hardly  live.  He  wrote  repeat- 
edly to  the  Home  Board,  reasoning  and  remonstrating 
against  a  policy  that  he  denominated  "  injudicious  and 
oppressive."  Still  he  continued  to  labor  on.  A  most 
blessed  revival  had  been  in  progress  for  months  where 
he  was  laboring,  and  although  his  family  was  actually 
suffering  for  many  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  he  could 
not  abandon  the  field. 

The  Connecticut  Missionary  Society  have  the  foUow- 
*  Min.  Erie  Pres.  i.  12. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  225 

ing  endorsement  in  their  report  for  the  year  1804 : 
"  Mr.  Badger  has  endured  great  hardships  in  riding  in 
stormy  and  severe  weather,  and  in  fording  rivers.  It 
appears  from  his  journal,  that  he  travels  in  that  rough, 
and  in  some  places,  almost  pathless  country,  nearly  sev- 
enteen hundred  miles  a  year ;  and  that  he  preaches  one 
hundred  and  forty  or  fifty  sermons.  He  attends  many 
conferences  and  meetings  for  prayer,  catechizes  the 
children,  and  is  abundant  in  family  visits."  ^ 

His  patience  having  become  exhausted,  he  resigned 
his  commission  from  the  Connecticut  Missionary  So- 
ciety, and  accepted  one  from  the  "  Western  Missionary 
Society,"  located  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  as  a  missionary  to 
the  Indians.  This  change  took  place  in  January,  1806. 
In  this  work  he  labored  amongst  the  Wyandotte  In- 
dians, in  the  region  of  Sandusky,  Ohio,  for  about  four 
years.  In  the  autumn  of  1807,  he  removed  his  family 
to  Sandusky,  but  on  account  of  the  unhealthiness  of  the 
climate,  moved  back  the  following  year.  At  the  close 
of  the  year  1809,  he  made  a  journey  to  Boston,  where 
he  collected  nearly  eleven  hundred  dollars  in  aid  of  his 
mission.  Returning,  he  resumed  his  labors  amongst 
the  Indians,  spending  his  time  away  from  his  family, 
and  heroically  devoting  himself  to  his  great  work.  Dur- 
ing one  of  these  absences,  he  heard  of  the  death  of  a 
beloved  daughter.  Of  her  he  makes  this  testimony  : 
"  The  Lord  gave  her  to  us,  and  continued  her  a  com- 
fortable child,  until  she  was  ripe  for  heaven.  We  have 
reason  to  believe  that  she  has,  through  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  Redeemer,  made  a  happy  change."  ^ 

Soon  after  this   bereavement,  he   received  a  letter 
from  his  wife,  informing  him  that  their  house  had  been 
burned,  with  nearly  all  its  contents.     He  immediately 
1  £van.  Intel  vol.  i.  497.  2  jfyid.  vol.  iii.  387. 

15 


226  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

hastened  home,  went  to  work,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  the  neighbors,  erected  another  cabin,  and  placing  his 
family  in  it,  turned  his  face  to  the  wilderness  once 
more. 

Havinsf  resigned  his  commission  to  the  Western 
Board,  he  removed,  in  the  spring  of  1810,  to  Ashtabula, 
Ohio,  with  his  family.  Here  and  in  the  neighboring 
settlements  he  preached,  deriving  his  support  in  part 
from  the  people  and  in  part  from  the  Massachusetts 
Missionary  Society. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  he  was  a  soldier  once  more, 
in  which  his  versatile  talent  was  brought  into  active  ex- 
ercise. His  connection  with  the  army  seems  to  have 
been  providential,  and  without  his  own  active  agency. 
Perkins'  brigade  had  been  ordered  westward  to  protect 
the  western  frontier.  Many  of  his  congregation  were 
in  the  ranks,  and  some  of  them  sick.  Mr.  Badger  vis- 
ited them  in  the  camp,  and  without  his  own  knowledge 
or  solicitation,  he  was  appointed  brigade  chaplain,  and 
postmaster  of  the  army  by  General  Harrison.  He  ac- 
cepted this  appointment  as  a  call  to  duty,  and  remained 
with  the  army  until  spring.  During  the  winter  he 
piloted  the  army  across  the  country  to  Lower  Sandusky, 
and  went  with  it  to  Maumee,  from  which  place  he  re- 
turned to  his  family  in  March,  1813. 

Mr.  Badger  continued  to  preach  in  various  places, 
without  any  regular  support,  until  1826,  when,  feeling 
the  infirmities  of  age  coming  upon  him,  with  a  straitness 
in  his  means,  he  reported  himself  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  placed 
upon  the  pension  roll  at  ninety-six  dollars  a  year. 
About  the  same  time,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  labor 
in  Gustavus,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio,  a  small  congregation 
of  about  thirty  members,  that  had  been  organized  by 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  227 

himself.  Over  this  people  he  was  installed  as  pastor  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River,  in  October,  1826.  Here 
he  labored  for  eight  years  with  encouraging  success, 
but  on  account  of  declining  health,  he  was  dismissed 
from  his  charge  by  the  Presbytery  of  Trumbull,  June 
26,  1835.^  This  dismission  was  at  his  own  request, 
and  against  the  wishes  of  his  people. 

In  October  following,  he  removed  to  Wood  County, 
Ohio,  to  reside  with  his  only  surviving  daughter,  Mrs. 
Van  Tassel.  With  her  he  remained  until  within  three 
years  of  his  decease,  when  he  removed  to  Perrysburg, 
Ohio,  where  he  died,  April  5,  1846,  in  the  ninetieth 
year  of  his  age.  His  last  sermon  was  preached  on  the 
day  of  the  National  Fast,  appointed  in  consequence  of 
the  death  of  President  Harrison,  his  old  commander. 
With  all  his  patriarchal  age,  '•  he  retained  his  mental 
powers  to  the  last  moments,  and  died  in  the  exercise  of 
a  triumphant  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  ^ 

In  his  ecclesiastical  relations,  Mr.  Badger  was  first  a 
Congregationalist,  but  finding  none  of  his  brethren  in 
his  new  field  of  labor,  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  This  new  relation  was  consum- 
mated on  the  13th  day  of  April,  1803.  In  1808,  the 
Presbytery  of  Hartford  (Beaver)  was  formed,  when  he 
became  one  of  its  original  members.  In  1814,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Grand  River,' 
and  lastly  of  the  Presbytery  of  Trumbull.*  It  is  said 
he  always  retained  his  preferences  for  Congregational- 
ism. 

"  In  person,"  says  President  Pierce  of  Western  Re- 
serve College,  "  he  was  about  the  medium  size,  of  a 
strong  and  muscular  frame,  and  yet  not  peculiarly  cor- 

1  Dr,  Elliott.  3  Formed  from  Hartford,  1814. 

2  lUd.  4  Formed  from  Grand  River,  1827. 


228  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

pulent.  The  features  of  his  countenance  were  strongly 
marked  —  bold,  expressive,  and  manly.  In  his  man- 
ners, he  was  frank,  open,  benevolent,  and  sympathetic. 
A  stranger  soon  felt  at  home  with  him,  and  prepared 
to  receive  with  confidence  information  on  all  subjects 
within  the  field  of  his  labors." 

He  was  a  man  of  great  versatility  of  genius.  He 
could  assist  the  farmer  in  manufacturing  and  repairing 
his  farming  utensils,  or  administer  medicine  to  the 
sick,  whilst  he  was  equally  at  home  in  shoeing  his  own 
horse,  carrying  hammer  and  nails  in  his  saddle-bags  for 
that  purpose. 

Whilst  the  army  lay  at  Lower  Sandusky,  during  his 
chaplaincy,  in  1812,  his  genius  was  called  into  requisi- 
tion.    Says  President  Pierce  :  — 

"  The  settlement  was  small,  and  the  army  encamped 
in  the  woods  was  short  of  provisions,  and  suffered  es- 
pecially in  that  they  had  no  means  for  grinding  corn. 
Mr.  Badger,  by  boring  and  burning,  scooped  out  a  large 
oak  stump  in  the  form  of  a  mortar.  In  this  he  placed 
an  upright  shaft,  fitted  at  the  end  for  a  pestle,  and  gave 
it  motion  by  means  of  a  horizontal  spring-pole,  fastened 
to  the  neighboring  trees,  and  thus  the  corn  was  pounded. 
When  he  had  got  his  machinery  in  operation,  he  called 
on  Colonel  Darrow,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  sta- 
tion, and  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  priestcraft  ? 
He  replied,  '  Yes.'  '  Would  you  like  to  see  a  specimen  ? ' 
'  Yes.'  So  he  took  him  to  the  woods  and  showed  him 
his  contrivance." 

The  same  authority  gives  us  the  following  incident 
of  his  missionary  adventures,  that  is  well  authenti- 
cated :  — 

"  On  the  eve  of  a  dark,  rainy  night,  the  streams  be- 
ing much  raised,  he  came  to  a  ford  on  Grand  River, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  229 

and  crossed,  intending  to  encamp  on  the  bank  for  the 
night.  He  was  prevented  by  the  snapping  and  growl- 
ing of  some  animal  near.  It  soon  became  so  dark 
that  he  could  not  see  his  hand  holding  the  bridle,  and 
he  knew  by  the  noise  that  a  bear  was  continually  ap- 
proaching. Having  a  horseshoe  in  his  hand,  guided  by 
the  noise,  he  threw  it,  but  without  effect.  He  reined 
his  horse  right  and  left,  that  he  might  find  a  tree  and 
climb  from  danger.  Succeeding  in  this,  he  fastened 
the  bridle  to  the  smaller  limbs,  rose  upon  the  saddle 
and  ascended  the  tree.  The  bear  came  to  the  root 
and,  as  he  supposed,  began  to  climb.  Gaining  a  firm 
footing,  he  drew  a  sharp  knife  and  prepared  for  battle. 
But  as  the  bear  did  not  approach,  he  ascended  about 
forty  feet  into  the  top  of  the  tree,  found  a  convenient 
place  to  sit  upon  a  limb,  and  tied  himself  to  the  tree 
with  his  handkerchief,  that  he  might  be  more  safe  if  he 
should  fall  into  a  drowse.  The  night  was  most  dreary, 
with  storm  and  wind  and  heavy  peals  of  thunder.  Prov- 
identially the  horse  was  not  frightened,  but  remained  a 
quiet  sentinel  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  Being  drenched 
with  rain,  he  shook  his  saddle,  and  so  frightened  the 
bear  that  he  retreated  a  few  rods,  where  he  remained 
growhng  and  snapping  his  teeth  until  near  daylight, 
when  he  left  the  premises,  and  the  missionary  went  to 
his  home  in  safety." 

Mr.  Badger  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Lois  Noble,  of  New  Milford,  Conn.,  a  sister  of  the 
wife  of  his  early  patron,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Mrs.  Badger  died  on  the  4th  of  August, 
1818,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  her  age.  She  was  a 
most  estimable  woman,  sharing  his  hardships,  conduct- 


230  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

injT  the  affairs  of  the  house  in  his  absence,  and  cooper- 
ating with  him  in  all  his  missionary  plans. 

His  second  wife  was  Miss  Abigail  Ely,  of  Wilbra- 
ham,  Mass.,  who  was  visiting  her  sisters  in  Salem,  Ohio. 
This  niarriage  took  place  in  April,  1819. 

And  thus  his  record  closes  upon  earth,  but  who  can 
doubt  but  that  it  is  carried  forward  in  heaven,  in  higher, 
holier,  and  more  exalted  service,  where  the  peace  and 
the  joy  and  the  glory  will  be  eternal ! 

(12).  ALEXANDER    COOK. 

1802-1828. 

Here  is  one  who  led  a  life  of  vicissitudes.  In  his 
earlier  years,  he  was  familiar  with  the  broom  and  the 
heather  of  Scotia's  classic  vales.  In  later  life  he  was 
an  artisan  at  Berwick-on- the-Tweed,  so  famous  in  Scot- 
tish history,  and  still  later  a  missionary  in  the  northern 
and  southern  portions  of  the  United  States. 

Alexander  Cook  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Isabella 
(Ogilvie)  Cook,  and  was  born  at  St.  Monance,  Fife- 
shire,  near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  on  the  4th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 17  GO,  and  was  baptized  on  the  6th  day  of  the  same 
month  and  year.  He  received  a  moderate  English 
education  at  Glasgow,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  silver- 
smith. He  was  at  Berwick-on-the-Tweed  in  1778,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1783.  He  lived  for  a  time  in 
the  State  of  Maryland,  and  in  1797  was  living  in  Can- 
nonsburg,  Pa.,  and  working  at  his  trade  as  a  silver- 
smith. In  those  days  there  seems  to  have  been  some- 
thing sacred  in  the  very  atmosphere  of  that  town.  The 
influence  of  Dr.  McMillan  seems  to  have  reached  al- 
most every  professing  Christian  man,  and  to  have  drawn 
them,  under  God,  into  the  ministry.     So  we  find  Alex- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  231 

ander  Cook  working  away  most  diligently  in  the  fabri- 
cation of  spoons  and  the  renovating  of  watches  ;  and  at 
the  same  time,  although  nearly  forty  years  of  age,  study- 
ing at  the  Academy,  with  reference  to  the  gospel  min- 
istry. He  studied  theology  with  Dr.  McMillan,  and 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  He  had  been 
taken  under  the  care  of  this  Presbytery,  January  21, 
1802,  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  sent  to  the  Indians  as 
a  missionary,  and  for  that  purpose  specially  licensed, 
April  23,  1802.  In  the  following  August,  it  is  recorded 
that  he  was  commissioned  by  General  Dearborn,  then 
Secretary  of  War,  as  a  missionary  to  the  Indians.  He 
had,  however,  an  appointment  of  a  more  ecclesiastical 
nature,  from  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh.  His  history  as  a 
missionary  is  thus  recorded  :  — 

"Mr.  Alexander  Cook,  a  licentiate  under  the  care 
of  the  Ohio  Presbytery,  was  appointed  to  spend  five 
months  at  Sandusky  to  instruct  the  Indians  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Gospel  of  Christ." 

Afterwards  it  is  recorded :  "  The  missionaries  have 
all  fulfilled  their  appointments  except  Messrs.  Joseph 
Patterson  and  Alexander  Cook,  who  though  they  went 
to  the  places  to  which  they  were  directed,  did  not  meet 
that  friendly  reception  they  expected  from  the  Indians, 
and  returned  in  about  two  months."  ^ 

He  was  regularly  licensed  for  the  settlements  on  the 
30th  day  of  September,  1802.  On  the  12th  day  of 
April,  1803,  he  was  received  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  and  having  accepted  calls  from  the  con- 
gregations of  Slippery  Rock  and  Lower  Neshannock, 
(now  New  Castle),  was  assigned  Rom.  iii.  31,  as  the  sub- 
ject of  a  sermon  as  part  of  trials  for  ordination.  He 
was  ordained  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  1803,  and  installed 
1  Printed  Jlin.  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  page  12. 


232  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

pastor  of  the  churches  of  Slippery  Rock  and  New  Castle. 
In  these  exercises  John  Boyd  (8)  preached  the  ser- 
mon, and  Thomas  Edgar  Hughes  (1)  delivered  the 
charges.  This  relation  continued  until  June  14th, 
1809,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  Presbytery.  On  the 
6th  day  of  March,  1810,  he  was  dismissed  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Hartford. 

About  this  time  Mr.  Cook  took  a  commission  as  a 
missionary  to  labor  in  the  States  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia.  This  work  continued  for  six  months.  He 
was  also  stated  supply  at  Poland,  Ohio,  from  1812  to 
1814.  On  the  3d  day  of  January,  1815,  he  was  received 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Bethany. 
This  relation  was  dissolved  April  1,  1820.  And  on 
the  3d  day  of  April,  1821,  he  was  received  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany,  and  on  the  26th  of  June  following, 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Ebenezer  and 
Bear  Creek.  This  relation  was  dissolved  on  the  26th 
day  of  June,  1827.  On  the  19th  of  October  following 
he  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville,  and 
for  a  year  supplied  the  churches  of  Annapolis  and 
Bloomfield,  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio. 

In  the  winter  of  1828,  he  left  his  home  to  organize  a 
church  in  a  Scotch  settlement,  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio.  Reaching  his  destination  on  Saturday,  he  con- 
versed to  a  late  hour  of  the  night  with  the  family  whose 
hospitality  he  was  enjoying,  and  retired  to  rest.  Not 
appearing  at  the  usual  time  of  rising  in  the  morning, 
examination  was  made,  when  he  was  found  dead  in  his 
bed.  His  death  occurred  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Johnston, 
on  Yellow  Creek,  November  30, 1828,  in  the  sixty-ninth 
year  of  his  age  and  the  thirty-seventh  of  his  ministry. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  233 

'  On  the  2d  day  of  January,  1787,  Mr.' Cook  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alizannah  Adams,  of  Abing- 
don, Md.  They  had  ten  children,  three  only  of  whom 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity.  Mrs.  Cook  died  at  Slip- 
pery Rock,  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  June  6,  1805.  Her 
death  took  place  on  a  Fast  Day,  whilst  her  husband  was 
at  church.  He  was  afterwards  married  to  Miss  Clark, 
of  Beaver  County,  Pa. 

In  person  Mr.  Cook  was  rather  below  the  medium 
height,  compactly  built,  dark  complexion,  dark  brown 
eyes,  with  a  sedate  expression  of  countenance,  generally, 
yet  with  a  vein  of  mirth,  cropping  out  in  times  of  re- 
laxation. He  had  a  good  faculty  of  rendering  himself 
ageeable  to  the  young. 

(13.)  ROBERT  PATTERSON. 

1801-1854. 

Robert  Patterson  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Joseph 
and  Jane  (Moak)  Patterson.  He  was  descended  from 
a  family  illustrious  for  its  patriotism,  and  what  is  better, 
for  piety  and  zeal  for  the  service  of  the  Lord.  The 
father  of  Robert  Patterson  was  born  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1752.  His  father,  though  but  a 
lad  at  the  time,  was  at  the  famous  siege  of  Derry ;  and 
the  sufferings  to  which  the  Patterson  family  were  sub- 
jected in  consequence  of  this  siege,  were  most  severe 
and  distressing.  This  branch  of  the  family  emigrated 
from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  in  consequence  of  the  ter- 
rible persecutions,  carried  on  by  Claverhouse,  under 
Charles  II.  The  grandfather  of  Robert  Patterson  was 
the  son  of  John,  the  founder  of  the  Irish  branch  of  the 
family.^ 

1  Sprague's  Annals, 


234  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Rev.  Jaseph  Patterson,  the  father  of  Robert,  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  in  1788.  He  was  a 
most  useful  and  laborious  minister,  and  died  at  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  in  1832. 

Robert  Patterson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  at  Stillwater,  New  York,  on  the  1st  day  of  April, 
1773,  near  the  spot  afterwards  celebrated  as  the  field 
of  one  of  the  most  severely  contested  battles  of  the 
Revolution.  Not  long  after  his  birth,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Germantown,  Pa.  The  battle  of  Germantown 
occurred  during  the  sojourn  of  the  family  at  that  place, 
and  Mr.  Patterson,  then  in  his  fifth  year,  distinctly 
remembered  many  of  its  scenes.  After  a  brief  resi- 
dence in  York  County,  the  family  removed  to  the 
West,  and  took  up  their  abode  in  Washington  County, 
Pa. 

In  the  spring  of  1791,  Robert  Patterson  commenced 
his  academical  studies  at  the  Cannonsburg  Academy, 
then  just  opened.  He  recited  the  first  lesson  that  was 
heard  in  connection  with  that  institution  —  teacher  and 
pupil  seated  under  the  shade  of  a  tree,  on  the  banks 
of  the  now  classic  Chartiers.  After  prosecuting  his 
studies  for  three  years  in  the  Academy,  he  went  east 
and  entered  the  senior  class  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1795.  On 
his  way  to  Philadelphia,  the  journey  there  being  made 
on  horseback,  he  met  the  forces  sent  out  by  the  Gov- 
ernment to  quell  the  Whiskey  Insurrection. 

Mr.  Patterson  had  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge.  He 
was  not  content  with  his  collegiate  course,  and  so  lin- 
gered in  the  halls  of  his  Alma  Mater  after  his  gradua- 
tion. He  was  employed  for  nearly  five  years  as  tutor 
in  the  University,  at  the  same  time  prosecuting,  still 
further,  his  studies  in  the  languages  and  higher  math- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  235 

ematics.  He  returned  to  the  residence  of  his  father,  who 
was  then  pastor  of  the  Raccoon  Church,  in  1800,  and  on 
the  30th  day  of  April,  1801,  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  His  theological 
studies  had  been  prosecuted  in  part  with  Rev.  Ashbel 
Green,  D.  D.,  while  he  was  connected  with  the  Uni- 
versity, and  in  part  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Millan. 

The  next  year  after  his  licensure,  Mr.  Patterson  took 
a  tour  over  the  destitute  region  of  what  was  afterward 
the  territory  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  visited 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  preached  at  various  places, 
and  finally  was  encouraged  to  think  of  settling  in  the 
congregations  of  Erie  and  Upper  and  Lower  Green- 
field. These  latter  churches  were  afterwards  known  as 
Middlebrook  and  North  East.  Rev.  Elisha  McCurdy 
had  preceded  him  here,  and  soon  after  Mr.  Pattei'son's 
first  visit,  he,  in  company  with  Joseph  Stockton  (4), 
James  Satterfield  (6),  and  his  own  famous  "praying 
elder,"  Philip  Jackson,  organized  the  churches  of  Upper 
Greenfield  (Middlebrook)  and  Lower  Greenfield 
(North  East). 

At  a  pro  re  nata  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
held  at  Pittsburgh,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1802, 
during  the  sessions  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  Mr. 
Patterson  was  received  under  its  care.  At  the  same 
meeting  calls  were  presented  for  his  pastoral  labors 
from  the  congregations  of  Erie  and  Upper  and  Lower 
Greenfield,  of  which  he  declared  his  acceptance.  Acts 
iii.  19  was  assigned  him  as  the  subject  for  a  sermon  as 
part  of  trials  for  ordination.  At  a  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery held  at  Lower  Greenfield,  or  North  East,  on  the 
1st  day  of  September,  1803,  the  congregation  of  Erie, 
having  from   some  cause  declined  entering  into   the 


236  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

arrangement,  Mr.  Patterson  was  ordained  and  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Upper  and  Lower 
Greenfield.  Here  he  labored  faithfully  and  with  the 
practice  of  much  self-denial  until  the  2 2d  day  of  April, 
1807,  when  at  his  own  request  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved.  During  his  labors  in  this  field  he  re- 
sided at  North  East,  and  took  frequent  missionary  tours 
up  and  down  the  Lake,  and  for  a  time  preached  a  part 
of  the  time  at  a  place  called  Portland.  A  wide-spread- 
ing fir-tree  is  still  pointed  out  by  an  aged  citizen  of  the 
neighborhood,  as  having  been  planted  by  Mr.  Patter- 
son's own  hand. 

In  April,  1807,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  take 
charge  of  the  Pittsburgh  Academy,  now  the  Western 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  During  the  three  years 
he  presided  over  this  institution,  he  numbered  among 
his  pupils  many  who  afterwards  filled  prominent  public 
stations,  and  who  often  spoke  in  grateful  terms  of  his 
care  and  faithfulness  as  an  instructor. 

In  October,  1812,  Mr.  Patterson  was  dismissed  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  to  connect  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone.  From  1810  to  1836  he  was 
engaged  in  secular  business,  book-selling,  and  at  times 
the  manufacture  of  paper,  having  been  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  one  of  the  first  paper  mills  established  in 
the  West.  This  business  was  carried  on  extensively 
for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  bringing  him  into 
extensive  public  notice,  yet  not  always  resulting  in  suc- 
cess. Indeed,  he  suffered  many  severe  reverses,  yet 
was  always  esteemed  a  man  of  most  undoubted  probity 
and  honor. 

During  the  greater  portion  of  this  time,  he  was  stated 
supply  of  the  Hilands  Church,  situated  about  seven 
miles  from  Pittsburgh,  and  in  the  bounds  of  the  Pres- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  237 

bytery  of  Ohio.  The  people  of  this  charge  have  often 
remembered  his  faithful  ministrations  ;  and  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  relationship  he  had  sustained  to  them,  with 
its  many  pleasing  associations,  was  a  theme  of  grateful 
acknowledgment  on  his  part,  to  the  latest  period  of 
his  life. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Patterson  removed  to  the  country  a 
short  distance  from  Pittsburorh.  The  infirmities  of  age 
were  now  upon  him,  and  he  ceased  to  preach  regularly, 
yet  he  was  always  ready,  when  physical  strength  would 
permit,  to  preach  in  neighboring  churches  when  they 
were  vacant.  For  many  years  increasing  spirituality 
seemed  to  characterize  his  mind.  The  things  unseen 
of  the  eye  of  sense  absorbed  his  attention  and  filled 
his  mind,  as  was  obvious  from  his  reading  and  conversa- 
tion. Scarcely  a  friend  or  even  a  stranger  paused  for 
a  moment  at  his  door,  without  having  their  attention 
called  to  the  things  of  religion.  Rev.  Richard  Lea, 
who  knew  him  well,  remarks  that  he  did  not  remember 
a  single  conversation  with  him  for  many  years,  were  the 
interview  long  or  short,  in  which  the  subject  of  the 
soul's  great  interest  had  not  been  introduced.  In  the 
bosom  of  his  own  family,  where  he  was  ever  the  most 
tender  of  husbands,  and  the  most  affectionate  of  fath- 
ers, and  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  domestic  intercourse 
which  had  for  him  a  peculiar  charm,  his  spirituality  of 
character  and  heavenly- mindedness,  shone  forth  with 
brightest  lustre. 

His  last  illness  was  brief.  His  disease  was  dysentery. 
It  assumed  an  alarming  character  about  a  week  pre- 
ceding his  departure.  When  all  hope  of  recovery  was 
precluded,  his  brother  Joseph  said  to  him,  "  You  will 
soon  be  with  that  Jesus  whom  you  have  loved  so  long." 
He  smiled  a  pleased  assent.   His  brother  then  remark- 


238  PRESBYTERY    OE   ERIE. 

ing  that  "  God  showed  the  same  mercy  in  breaking  up 
as  in  building  up  a  family,"  he  replied  that  "  We  are 
too  prone  to  regard  only  one  of  God's  attributes  —  his 
mercy ;  forgetting  that  he  was  infinite  in  them  all  — 
his  justice  as  well  as  his  mercy."  Other  remarks 
showed  that  whilst  tenderly  mindful  of  those  around, 
his  thoughts  were  with  that  Saviour  he  was  so  soon  to 
see. 

On  Sabbath  afternoon  he  lapsed  into  a  state  of  almost 
lethargy,  which  continued  with  little  interruption  until 
Tuesday  evening,  September  5,  1854,  when  without  a 
quivering  muscle,  or  a  heaving  sigh,  he  passed  away 
from  earth. 

There  are  perhaps  few  to  whom  could  be  applied 
with  greater  propriety  the  words  which  were  the  last 
he  ever  read,  when  he  led  for  the  last  time  the  devo- 
tions of  his  family,  on  the  Wednesday  preceding  his 
decease  :  "  For  our  conversation  is  in  heaven  ;  from 
whence  also  we  look  for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be 
fashioned  like  unto  bis  glorious  body,  according  to  the 
working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all  things 
unto  himself."  Phil.  iii.  20,  21. 

In  August,  1801,  Mr.  Patterson  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jean,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Canon,  the 
proprietor  of  Cannonsburg.  They  had  seven  children, 
five  daughters,  and  two  sons. 

The  following  paper  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  Richard 
Lea,  will  throw  light  upon  his  character :  "  Rev. 
Robert  Patterson,  son  of  Joseph,  was  like  his  father  in 
many  respects :  rather  short  and  heavy,  very  lively  and 
good  natured.  He  was  not  a  student,  but  a  good 
scholar  ;  long  known  in  Pittsburgh  as  a  bookseller,  but 
preaching  for  twenty-five  years,  nearly  every  Sabbath, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  239 

in  Hilands  Church.  He  had  labored  previously  in  Erie 
County,  Pa.  He  lived  many  years,  in  a  hearty  old  age, 
after  his  resignation  as  pastor. 

"  I  never  knew  one  so  remarkable  for  under-valuing 
self.  In  judicatories  he  spoke  impulsively,  and  if  re- 
plied to  pointedly,  none  enjoyed  it  more  than  himself. 
He  would  catechize  a  young  man's  performance  ear- 
nestly, and  ending  with,  '  It  is  too  much  like  my  own 
performances ; '  or  '  It  is  very  poor  indeed,  but  far 
better  than  I  could  do  myself.'  The  severest  thing  he 
ever  said  was,  '  Moderator,  as  a  performance,  that  is 
more  logical  and  accurate  than  anything  of  my  own, 
but  I  never  did  preach  such  a  Christless  thing.  I  never 
will  vote  for  a  sermon  that  has  not  the  slightest  perfume 
of  the  Rose  of  Sharon.' 

"  He  often  told  with  great  gusto,  the  following,  which 
was  rather  at  his  own  expense  :  — 

" '  I  was  riding  on  horseback  through  the  mud,  seven 
miles  to  Hilands,  to  preach  on  Sabbath  morning.  A 
traveller  overtook  me.  I  told  him  he  must  be  fond  of 
violating  the  Sabbath  to  travel  over  such  awful  roads. 

" '  And  what  are  you  doing,  friend  ?  ' 

"'O,  I'm  going  to  church.' 

" '  Do  you  think  it  makes  much  difference  to  the 
horse  ?     Couldn't  you  get  preaching  nearer  ?  ' 

"  The  church  was  soon  reached,  and  I  said,  '  Sup- 
pose you  come  and  hear  preaching ;  it  will  rest  both  you 
and  your  horse.' 

"  '  Who  is  the  preacher  ? ' 

" '  One  Patterson.' 

"  '  Did  he  preach  in  Erie  once  ? ' 

" '  Yes.' 

" '  Then  I  won't  stop  —  he  is  the  dryest  old  stick  I 
ever  heard.' 


240  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 

"  His  own  sermons  were  all  extempore,  and  very  much 
taken  up  with  the  relative  duties  of  husbands  and 
wives,  parents  and  children.  He  abounded  in  anecdotes, 
sure  to  speak  of  Jesus ;  often,  with  tears,  of  his  mother. 

"  The  text  he  often  parsed  —  spoke  of  nouns  and 
verbs,  etc.,  often  exclaiming,  ^  0,  the  sweetness  of  the 
personal  pronouns.  Any  one  can  say,  a  Saviour,  the 
Saviour ;  it  takes  a  christian  to  say,  my  Lord,  my 
Saviour.' 

"  Every  one  wished  to  lodge  him,  at  Presbytery.  He 
would  put  all  at  ease  by  saying,  '  What  a  bountiful 
meal  God  has  given  you  for  us.'  '  Put  as  much  cream 
into  my  coffee  as  though  you  kept  a  cow,  and  as  much- 
sugar  as  if  you  had  a  sugar  camp.' 

"  '  Make  your  tea  strong,  and  weaken  with  cream  and 
sugar.' 

"  '  Madam  !  What  a  nice  big  boy  you  have  !  Give 
him  to  Christ,  and  ask  him  to  make  him  a  missionary.' 

"  To  a  lady  who  asked  him  what  school  she  should 
send  her  daughter  to,  he  replied,  *  That  one  that  has 
the  most  religion  in  it.' 

" '  Don't  send  your  boy  into  the  world  until  he  has 
found  Christ.  But  if  he  will  go,  follow  him  with  prayers 
and  tears.  Give  him  and  God  no  rest,  until  he  is  con- 
verted.' " 

(14.)  EGBERT  JOHNSTON. 

1802-1861. 

There  are  many  remarkable  incidents  connected  with 
the  life  of  this  servant  of  God.  His  old  age,  his  long 
period  of  active  labor,  and  his  success  in  winning  souls 
to  Christ,  make  his  history  interesting  and  instructive. 
There  is  an  incident  connected  with  his  dawn  of  life 
that   is  worthy  of  record.     "  When  he  was  an  infant 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  241 

of  days,  his  maternal  grandfather  died,  who  was  a  de- 
votedly pious  man.  Just  before  his  death,  he  was  led  to 
the  door,  at  his  own  request,  supported  by  his  attendant 
watchers.  It  was  night.  He  looked  with  anxious  gaze 
towards  the  heavens,  as  though  longing  to  fly  away  to 
Grod.  But  his  work  was  not  quite  done.  As  he  cast 
his  eyes  downward,  the  little  babe  in  his  mother's  arms 
smiled  upon  him,  at  which  sight  he  lifted  his  eyes  again 
toward  heaven,  and  poured  forth  a  most  earnest  and  im- 
passioned prayer  for  the  infant.  It  was  his  dying  prayer. 
His  work  was  now  done,  and  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 
From  that  hour,  the  parents,  who  had  already  devoted 
the  child  to  God  in  baptism,  resolved  with  unwavering 
purpose  to  educate  him  for  the  ministry."  ^ 

"  Rev.  Robert  Johnston  was  of  English  extraction, 
being  a  lineal  descendant  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  by  Bridget, 
the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Protector,  who  was  first  the 
wife  of  General  Fleetwood,  and  afterward  of  General 
Ireton.  His  paternal  grandfather  emigrated  to  this 
country,  in  early  manhood,  and  settled  and  married  in 
the  State  of  New  Jersey.  He  had  three  sons  —  Abram, 
Robert,  and  Elisha  ■ —  and  one  daughter.  Robert,  the 
second  son,  settled  as  a  farmer  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Juniata  River,  in  what  is  called  Sherman's  Valley,  in 
Cumberland  (now  Perry)  County,  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane  Graham. 

"  Mr.  Robert  Johnston  had  five  sons,  James,  Edward, 
Robert,  Francis,  and  William,  and  two  daughters,  Nancy 
and  Mary.  Edward  obtained,  when  somewhat  advanced 
in  life,  an  education,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel.  Robert,  the  third  son  and  subject  of  this  bio- 
graphical sketch,  was  born  on  the  7th  day  of  August, 
1774."  2 

1  Kev.  Loyal  Young,  D.  D.  2  d^.  Swift's  Sermon. 

16 


242  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

The  purpose  of  devoting  him  to  the  gospel  ministry, 
his  parents  seem  to  have  laid  up  in  their  own  hearts, 
for  in  boyhood  young  Robert  was  sent  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  wagon-maker,  which  business  he  pursued  until 
his  twenty-second  year.  In  the  year  1792.  his  father 
crossed  the  mountains,  and  with  his  family  settled  on  a 
place  near  Cannonsburg,  Pa.  He  had  become  involved 
pecuniarily,  and  must  seek  a  home  in  a  comparatively 
new  country.  In  this  new  location  his  circumstances 
began  to  prosper,  and  he  saw  the  way  opening  for  carry- 
ing out  his  long-cherished  purpose  of  educating  his  son. 
In  May,  1796,  the  parents  of  Robert  Johnston  made 
known  to  him  and  the  rest  of  the  family  their  plans  and 
hopes,  and  in  his  twenty-second  year  he  commenced 
his  studies  in  the  Cannonsburg  Academy. 

In  the  autumn  of  1801,  having  completed  his  studies 
in  the  Academy,  he  commenced  the  study  of  theology 
with  Dr.  McMillan.  His  classmates  were,  James  Car- 
nahan,  William  McMillan,  Robert  Patterson  (13),  and 
Stephen  Lindley.  On  the  22d  of  April,  1802,  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio. 

Very  providentially  for  the  cause  of  history,  Mr. 
Johnston  has  left  behind  a  brief  autobiography,  from 
which  a  few  paragraphs  are  selected,  quoted  from  the 
discourse  dehvered  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Swifl,  D.  D.,  before 
the  Synod  of  Alleghany  :  — 

"  After  prosecuting  the  study  of  theology  about  eigh- 
teen months,  I  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio, 
on  the  22d  of  April,  1802.  After  riding  one  year  as 
a  licentiate  (chiefly  in  Ohio  and  Kentucky),  I  received 
a  call  from  the  united  congregations  of  Scrubgrass  and 
Bear  Creek,  and  entered  upon  my  charge  on  the  first 
Sabbath  of  August." 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  243 

Mr.  Johnston  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  on  the  19th  day  of  October,  1803,  at  Scrubgrass. 
His  trial  sermon  was  on  John  vi.  45.  In  the  ordination 
services,  Eev.  James  Satterfield  (6)  preached  on  Matt. 
xvi.  26,  and  Rev.  William  Wylie  (7)  presided  and  de- 
livered the  charges.^ 

"  I  had  become  familiar  with  the  great  western  re- 
vival which  commenced  in  Kentucky,  in  1802,  having 
seen  it  there  and  in  Ohio  during  the  summer,  and  in 
Western  Pennsylvania  in  the  fall  and  winter  following, 
and  felt  anxious  to  see  it  in  my  own  charge.  The  set- 
tlement in  Scrubgrass  was  new,  and  composed  generally 
of  young  families,  and  was  lamentably  destitute  of  vital 
piety.  So  far  as  I  knew,  there  were  but  three  praying 
men  in  the  congregation,  and  they  lived  in  the  extreme 
parts  of  it,  and  could  not  be  convened  for  a  prayer 
meeting." 

Mr.  Johnston  then  proceeds  to  relate  the  circum- 
stances, already  alluded  to  in  the  body  of  this  work,  con- 
nected with  a  powerful  revival  of  religion,  the  fruits  of 
which  he  states  to  be  the  hopeful  conversion  of  more 
than  a  hundred  souls  within  the  bounds  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Scrubgrass,  comprising  fully  one  half  of  all 
its  adult  members. 

"  Not  long  after  the  revival  had  ceased,  I  resigned 
the  charge  of  Bear  Creek,  and  devoted  my  whole  time 
to  Scrubgrass,  where  I  continued  to  labor  in  peace  and 
comfort  until  interrupted  by  claims  to  the  soil,  presented 
by  land-jobbers,  which  eventually  drove  many  of  my  best 
members  from  their  farms  into  the  State  of  Ohio.  This 
reduced  the  congregation  so  far  that  I  was  laid  under 
the  painful  necessity  of  parting  with  the  remains  of  a ' 
1  Min.  Erie  Pres.  i.  21. 


244  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

flock,  endeared  to  me  by  every  tie  that  could  bind  a 
pastor  and  liis  flock  together  in  love. 

"In  February,  1811, 1  took  my  leave  of  this  little 
flock  and  moved  to  Meadville,  and  took  charge  of  that 
congregation,  with  two  others,  Sugar  Creek  and  Con- 
neaut  Lake,  devoting  half  of  my  time  to  Meadville,  and 
the  balance  to  the  other  two.  Here  I  continued  to 
labor  until  the  spring  of  1817,  when,  for  causes  not 
under  my  control,  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  leave  them 
and  to  remove  to  the  congregations  of  Rehoboth  and 
Round  Hill,  on  the  forks  of  the  Youghiogheny  River, 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone. 

"  In  these  congregations,  I  continued  to  labor  in 
peace  and  comfort,  and  I  trust  not  without  some  degree 
of  usefulness,  until  December,  1822,  when  for  various 
reasons  that  to  me  appeared  sufficient  to  decide  the  ques- 
tion of  duty,  and  which  I  presented  to  the  Presbytery 
in  writing,  I  took  my  leave  of  that  people.  I  spent  the 
following  winter  principally  in  an  Agency  for  the  Board 
of  Domestic  Missions  ;  and  in  the  spring  I  accepted  an 
Agency  in  behalf  of  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  and  part  of  the  summer  and  fall  I  acted  as 
agent  for  the  Western  Theological  Seminary. 

"  On  the  first  of  November,  1^33,  I  visited  Bethel 
congregation,  Indiana  County,  Pa.,  where  I  spent  the 
winter  as  stated  supply,  and  in  the  spring  accepted  a 
call  and  became  their  pastor.  Here  I  continued  until, 
through  the  infirmities  of  age,  I  became  unable  to  en- 
dure the  fatigue  and  exposure  necessarily  connected 
with  parochial  duties,  particularly  family  visitation,  dis- 
trict catechising,  and  Bible-class  and  Sabbath-school 
instruction.  Believing  that  in  ordinary  circumstances 
no  man  is  justifiable  in  holding  an  office  in  Church  or 
State,  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  which  he  is  un- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  245 

able  to  discharge,  I  asked  and  obtained  leave  to  resign 
my  pastoral  charge  in  October,  1841,  and  at  the  request 
of  the  congregation,  I  continued  as  stated  supply  for 
six  months.  While  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  resign  the 
charge  of  a  congregation,^  I  had  no  design  to  quit 
preaching,  and  being  blessed  with  health  and  strength 
of  lungs  beyond  the  lot  of  my  fellow-laborers,  I  had  no 
desire  to  demit  my  beloved  employment,  and  for  six 
years  that  I  have  been  without  a  charge,  I  have,  in  as- 
sisting my  brethren  on  communion  occasions,  and  in 
supplying  their  pulpits  when  they  were  necessarily  ab- 
sent, and  occasionally  supplying  a  vacant  congregation, 
preached  as  many  sermons  as  there  have  been  Sabbaths, 
since  my  dismission  in  1841  up  to  October,  1847. 
Since  that  time  I  have  not  been  able  to  preach  so  fre- 
quently." 

We  have  here  in  his  own  words,  plain  and  unassum- 
ing as  they  are,  a  record  of  his  outward  life  and  public 
labors.  From  other  sources  it  appears  that  he  remained 
at  Scrubgrass  and  Bear  Creek  about  eight  years ;  in 
Meadville,  and  the  congregations  attached  to  it,  six 
years ;  in  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill,  sixteen  years ;  in 
Bethel  ten  years,  making  an  active  pastorate  of  forty 
years. 

After  retiring  from  the  pastoral  office  he  continued 
to  reside  with  his  son,  James  W.  Johnston,  Esq.,  until 
his  death. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  from  the  time  of  his  ordination  until  February 
25,  1818,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Redstone.  He  continued  a  member  of  this 
Presbytery  until  1834,  when  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Biairsville,  of  which  he  continued  a 
1  Mr.  Johnston  was  then  in  his  68th  year. 


246  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

member  until  1851,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver,  continuing  this  connection  until 
his  death. 

About  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Eleanor  Wright,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Wright,  long  an  eminent  and  valuable  ruling 
elder  in  the  church  ;  and  with  her  he  lived  most  happily 
for  near  fifty  years.  This  devoted  woman  entered  most 
heartily  into  the  spirit  of  his  labors,  accompanying  him 
on  horseback  in  his  missionary  work,  sharing  in  his  pri- 
vations, comforting  him  in  his  discouragements,  and 
taking  such  part  in  his  labors,  throughout  his  public 
ministry,  as  a  devoted,  heroic,  Christian  wife  can,  and 
died  in  New  Castle,  Pa.,  about  the  year  1852. 

Of  his  family  four  sons  received  a  liberal  education, 
and  are  settled  respectably  in  professional  life  :  Rev.  J. 
Watson  Johnston,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver ;  Hon. 
S.  P.  Johnston,  President  Judge  of  the  Sixth  Judicial 
District  of  Pennsylvania ;  Robert  Johnston,  M.  D.,  of 
West  Middlesex,  Pa. ;  and  James  W.  Johnston,  Esq.,  a 
member  of  the  bar.  Of  his  two  surviving  daughters, 
one  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Loyal  Young,  D.  D.,  of  Butler, 
Pa.,  and  the  other  of  Alexander  Ross,  Esq.,  of  New 
Castle,  Pa. 

During  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  he  was  much  dis- 
abled by  infirmity,  being  obliged  to  walk  with  crutches 
and  even  in  this  way  with  difficulty.  The  last  time  he 
appeared  in  Synod  was  at  New  Castle,  in  September, 
1855  ;  when,  coming  in  on  his  crutches,  he  was  cordially 
saluted  by  the  venerable  moderator.  Dr.  Swift,  with  in- 
quiries for  his  health,  he  replied  :  "  I  have  nothing  of 
which  to  complain,"  but  checking  himself  he  added,  — 
"  Yes,  there  is  the  old  wicked  heart  yet.  I  cannot  get 
clear  of  that." 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  247 

He  was  always  punctual  in  his  attendance  at  meet- 
ings of  church  courts.  To  his  son-in-law,  Dr.  Young, 
he  wrote  in  October,  1849  :  "  My  health  has  been  so 
precarious  for  some  time  past,  that  I  feel  that  it  would 
not  be  prudent  to  be  from  home  for  any  length  of  time. 
I  have  therefore  concluded  to  be  absent  for  the  first 
time  for  the  last  forty-six  years  from  the  meeting  of 
Synod." 

From  his  early  struggles  in  the  way  of  life,  he  was 
eminently  fitted  to  guide  the  inquiring,  to  comfort  the 
desponding,  and  to  warn  those  who  were  disposed  to 
trust  in  their  own  works.  His  ministry  was  eminently 
successful.  During  the  revivals  with  which  his  ministry 
was  blessed,  many  young  men  were  brought  into  the 
church,  who  afterwards  became  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

He  was  the  special  friend  of  all  the  benevolent  opera- 
tions of  the  church.  Missionary,  Educational,  Bible, 
and  Temperance  Societies,  always  had  his  most  hearty 
cooperation  and  encouragement. 

"  Mr.  Johnston  was  an  able,  instructive,  and  impres- 
sive preacher.  Without  being  what  is  familiarly  called 
an  eloquent,  polished,  or  captivating  speaker,  he  pos- 
sessed strong  lungs,  a  voice  capable  of  filling  with  ease 
the  largest  building,  and  an  enunciation  so  distinct  that 
any  in  the  largest  assembly  could  easily  hear  him.  If 
his  voice  was  mighty  in  strength,  and  solemn  and  com- 
manding in  its  utterance,  it  lacked  melody  and  softness. 
His  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  grave,  solemn,  and  often 
impassioned,  attesting  the  profoundest  sincerity  and 
ardor  ;  and  at  times  his  appeals  to  the  conscience  were 
thrilling  and  powerful."  ^ 

Says    Dr.    Young  :    "  His   preaching   was     earnest, 
solemn,  and  instructive.    Often  was  he  so  deeply  moved 
by  the  importance  of  his  themes,  that  utterance  almost 
1  Dr.  Swift. 


248  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

failed.  This  was  more  especially  the  case  in  prayer- 
The  unction  and  pathos  of  his  prayers  are  well  known 
by  those  who  have  often  bowed  with  him  at  the  family 
altar.  The  circle  gathered  there  have  often  found  the 
place  a  Bochim,  while  he  led  in  penitential  supplication." 

With  a  heart  overflowing  with  human  kindness,  there 
was  yet  much  in  his  countenance  and  manner  that  re- 
minded one  of  the  old  Puritan  fathers.  The  blood  of 
his  old  ancestors  seemed  to  show  itself  in  his  counte- 
nance and  in  his  speech.  There  was  a  gravity  and 
sternness  in  his  countenance  and  words  that  at  first  were 
almost  repulsive.  He  used  the  old  Anglo-Saxon  lan- 
guage with  great  power,  and  handled  the  vices  and  fol- 
lies of  the  times  with  unmitigated  severity,  speaking 
in  language  so  strong  that  it  seemed  sometimes  to 
amount  to  censoriousness  and  harshness.  Yet  withal, 
no  one  acquainted  with  him  doubted  the  genuine  kind- 
ness and  charity  that  dwelt  in  his  heart. 

Says  Dr.  Young,  in  speaking  of  his  last  days :  "  To 
the  doctrines  and  order  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  Mr. 
Johnston  was  devotedly  attached  ;  and  yet  he  loved  with 
true  Catholic  charity  all  that  bore  the  image  of  Christ. 
No  man  appreciated  more  than  he,  a  good  sermon  or 
address,  and  he  was  enraptured  by  the  power  of  elo- 
quence, especially  when  the  subject  was  the  excellency 
of  Christ,  the  glory  of  his  coming  kingdom,  or  the 
work  of  his  grace  in  the  hearts  of  men.  These  were 
themes  of  which  he  never  grew  weary.  These  themes 
so  filled  his  heart  during  his  last  years  that  he  was  always 
happy.  Never,  perhaps,  was  an  old  age  more  cheerful. 
His  wonder  was  why  God  should  continue  the  life  of 
one  so  useless,  and  he  said  often  that  he  was  just  wait- 
ing in  daily  anticipation  of  his  departure.  A  few  years 
before  his  death,  and  at  the  last  time  he  was  at  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  249 

• 

house  of  the  writer,  while  the  family  were  gathered  for 
worship  on  the  evening  of  the  Sabbath,  he  gave  utter-* 
ance  to  words  so  full  of  longing  desire  for  heaven, 
that  the  pen  can  do  no  justice  in  attempting  to  record 
them.  He  said  he  had  such  an  insatiable  desire  to 
know  what  the  glory  of  heaven  was,  that  he  felt  almost 
impatient  for  the  time  to  come  when  he  should  be  per- 
mitted to  behold  it ;  and  this  was  said  with  so  much 
pathos,  and  with  a  face  so  radiant  with  joy,  that  we  all  felt 
that  we  were  communing  with  a  man  that  had  a  foretaste 
of  the  bliss  to  which  he  was  going.  It  was  then,  or  at  a 
later  period,  that  he  informed  the  writer  that  he  had  an 
abiding  assurance  of  his  being  accepted  with  God  and  of 
his  final  happiness,  and  that  for  many  years  he  had  had 
no  anxious  doubt.  In  view  of  the  Millennium,  whose 
dawn  he  soon  anticipated,  he  would  sometimes  say,  that 
if  it  were  lawful,  he  could  wish  to  have  been  born  fifty 
years  later." 

But  the  time  of  departure  came  at  last,  and  with  an 
illness  of  but  two  weeks'  duration,  he  seemed  literally 
to  fall  asleep,  without  a  muscle  indicating  a  departing 
struggle.  His  death  occurred  at  New  Castle,  Pa.,  May 
20,  1861,  in  the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  His 
remains  rest  in  the  cemetery  at  New  Castle,  near  those 
of  his  departed  companion  in  life. 

(15.)  NICHOLAS  PITTINGER. 

1803-1831. 

Nicholas  Pittinger  was  born  about  the  year  1766. 
Although  his  death  took  place  at  a  comparatively  late 
date,  yet  not  much  of  his  history  has  come  down  to  our 
day.  Of  his  parents  and  place  of  birth,  we  know  noth- 
ing.    He  was  educated  at  the  Cannonsburg  Academy, 


2^0  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

and  studied  theology  in  the  approved  way  with  Dr. 
McMillan,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio 
on  the  20th  day  of  October,  1803.  His  name  first  ap- 
pears on  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  January 
11,  1804,  in  this  wise:  "Mr.  Pittinger,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Ohio  Presbytery,  being  present  aild  having  signified 
his  willingness  to  itinerate  through  the  vacancies  in  this 
Presbytery,  was  appointed  to  preach  at  Poland,"  etc. 

On  the  27th  day  of  June,  in  the  same  year,  he  was 
received  under  the  care  of  Presbytery,  and  calls  from 
the  congregations  of  Westfield,  Pa.,  and  Poland,  Ohio, 
having  been  presented  for  his  pastoral  labors,  Rom.  iii. 
31,  was  assigned  him  as  a  subject  for  a  sermon  as  part 
of  trials  for  ordination. 

On  the  24th  day  of  October,  1804,  he  was  ordained 
to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry,  and  installed  pastor 
of  the  above  churches.  The  meeting  of  Presbytery  was 
at  Westfield,  the  veteran  Joseph  Badger  (11)  preached 
the  sermon,  and  William  Wick  (2)  delivered  the 
charges.  He  continued  to  serve  the  church  of  West- 
field  until  the  13th  of  September,  1809,  and  the  church 
of  Poland  until  the  20th  of  March,  1810. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hartford,  or  Beaver,  and  from  that  Presby- 
tery was  dismissed  to  that  of  Washington,  Ky.,  March 
21,  1810.  We  cannot  follow  him  closely  now,  as  the 
footprints  become  indistinct.  In  the  year  1810,  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Washington,  Ky.,  and 
is  reported  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Rocky  Spring, 
near  Greenfield,  Ohio.  Soon  after,  he  is  preaching  at 
Nazareth  and  New  Market,  in  connection  with  Rocky 
Spring.  His  pastorate  at  the  latter  place  continued 
about  ten  years,  and  terminated  in  1820.  He  is  after- 
wards reported  as  stated  supply  at  Pisgah,  in  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Chilicothe. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  251 

About  the  year  1821,  he  removed  to  the  State  of  In- 
diana, and  in  1823  was  commissioned  by  the  Board  of 
Missions  to  labor  in  the  northern  part  of  that  State.^ 
This  missionary  work  was  arduous  and  severe.  It  con- 
tinued but  about  one  year,  as  he  returned  to  the  con- 
gregation of  Rocky  Spring,  in  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  in 
April,  1824,  where  he  continued  to  labor  as  a  stated 
supply  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  16,  1831, 
in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty-eighth 
of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Pittinger  was  twice  married.  His  first  marriage 
took  place  before  he  entered  the  ministry.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  two  or  three  children.  His  second 
wife  was  from  the  Rocky  Spring  congregation.  Her 
name  was  Mrs.  Applegate,  maiden  name  Taylor.  She 
survived  him  until  January,  1840. 

Mr.  Pittinger  is  reported  as  having  been  remarkably 
plain.  His  manner  was  blunt  and  uncompromising, 
exhibiting  more  of  the  spirit  of  John  the  Baptist  than 
of  John  the  beloved  disciple. 

(16.)  JOHN   McPHERRIN. 

1789-1822. 

John  McPherrin  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Pa., 
on  the  17th  day  of  November,  1757.  His  father's  fam- 
ily afterwards  removed  to  Westmoreland  County,  Pa. 
His  studies,  preparatory  to  entering  College,  were  pur- 
sued with  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  D.  D.,  of  Pequea.  He 
graduated  at  Dickinson  College  in  1788.  His  theolog- 
ical education  was  pursued  under  the  direction  of  Rev. 
John  Clark,  pastor  of  Bethel  congregation,  Alleghany 
County,  Pa.     He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 

1  Gillett's  History. 


252  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1789.  On  the  22d  of  September,  in  the  year  follow- 
ing, he  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Salem  and 
Unity,  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.  His  labors  were 
prosperous  and  successful  in  this  field  for  a  number  of 
years.  On  the  28th  of  June,  1800,  he  was  released 
from  the  charge  of  Unity,  and  on  the  20th  of  April, 
1803,  from  that  of  Salem. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1805,  he  became  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  having  removed  to  Butler 
County,  Pa.,  and  accepted  calls  from  the  congregations 
of  Concord  and  Muddy  Creek.  The  records  are  not 
clear  in  regard  to  this  period  of  his  pastoral  labor.  In 
1806,  he  is  reported  as  pastor  of  Concord,  Muddy 
Creek,  and  Harmony ;  in  1809,  as  pastor  of  Concord 
and  Harmony.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1813,  he  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Butler,  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie.  This  was  in  connection  with  the  church 
of  Concord.  Of  this  united  charge  he  remained  pastor 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  about  nine  years.  His  death 
took  place  at  Butler,  Pa.,  on  the  10th  day  of  February, 
1822,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirty- 
third  of  his  ministry. 

The  writer  of  his  obituary  notice  in  the  "  Pittsburgh 
Recorder,",^  says :  "  He  was  a  warm,  zealous,  and  evan- 
gelical preacher.  For  some  years  before  his  death,  he 
appeared  to  be  remarkably  weaned  from  the  world ;  he 
indeed  lived  above  the  world.  His  whole  heart  and 
soul  were  absorbed  in  the  love  of  God,  and  his  whole 
aim  was  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's 
kingdom." 

Mr.  McPherrin  appears  to  have  been  of  a  nervous, 

1  Quoted  by  Dr.  Elliott,  from  whom  many  facts  were  received. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  253 

sensitive  temperament,  illy  fitted  for  the  rough  contact 
with  life.  Says  Dr.  Loyal  Young,  his  successor  in  the 
pastoral  office  at  Butler  :  "  For  a  few  years  he  labored, 
at  times,  under  great  mental  depression.  A  sense  of 
his  unworthiness  sometimes  led  him  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  wrong  for  him  to  engage  in  ministerial  work. 
Sometimes  on  Sabbath  morning  he  would  tell  his  wife 
that  he  could  not  preach  that  day,  and  would  seem  in- 
clined not  to  fulfill  his  appointment.  She  would  pur- 
suade  him  to  go  and  conduct  prayer-meeting,  if  he  could 
not  preach.  On  such  occasions,  he  would  generally 
preach  sermons  of  unusual  power. 

"  Mr.  McPherrin  was  very  faithful  as  a  pastor.  After 
catechising  the  family,  he  would  take  each  of  the 
younger  members  aside,  and  personally  urge  upon  them 
the  necessity  of  a  new  heart,  and  an  interest  in  Christ. 
These  private  interviews  were  often  blessed  to  their 
conversion." 

The  following  tribute  to  his  memory  is  from  the  pen 
of  Hon.  Walter  Lowrie,-^  Secretary  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  who  was  his  son-in-law  :  — 

"  Mr.  McPherrin  did  not  write  his  sermons.  He  used 
very  brief  but  comprehensive  notes,  which  he  placed  in 
a  small  pocket-Bible. 

"  It  is  no  easy  matter  to  draw  a  faithful  likeness  of 
Mr.  McPherrin's  character  and  appearance.  He  was 
tall  in  person,  his  hair,  when  I  first  saw  him,  quite  gray, 
and  his  whole  appearance  the  most  venerable  of  any 
man  I  have  ever  seen.  Decision  and  energy  were  the 
leading  traits  of  his  character.  He  knew  not  the  fear  of 
man,  though  sometimes  his  firmness  degenerated  into 
obstinacy.  His  natural  temper  was  warm;  hypocrisy 
formed  no  part  of  his  character,  and  his  heart  was  the 
1  Furnished  to  Dr.  Young. 


254  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

seat  of  friendship  and  good-will  to  man.  He  possessed 
a  strong  mind  and  strong  natural  abilities.  At  Dickin- 
son College,  under  the  celebrated  Dr.  Nesbit,  he  had 
received  a  thorough  education,  and  by  his  studious  hab- 
its, his  mind  was  in  a  constant  state  of  improvement. 
As  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  his  zeal  in  his  Master's 
cause  never  flagged,  and  a  sincere  desire  to  do  good 
was  his  ruling  passion  through  life.  His  eloquence  was 
classically  chaste,  yet  strong  and  nervous.  His  hearers 
were,  in  general,  rather  awed  than  charmed,  more  in- 
structed than  delighted,  yet  often  did  the  tears  of  his 
audience  flow  before  they  were  themselves  aware  of  it. 
All  his  sermons  were,  in  the  highest  degree,  evangel- 
ical. Christ  Jesus  and  him  crucified  was  the  burden  of 
his  message  ;  and  yet  in  every  discourse  he  urged  in 
the  strongest  manner  the  necessity  of  good  works  and 
a  holy  and  Christian  walk,  not  as  a  means  or  ground  of 
acceptance  with  God,  but  as  an  evidence  of  being  in 
the  right  way." 

Mr.  McPherrin  was  in  early  life  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  Stevenson,  daughter  of  John  Stevenson, 
of  Cross  Creek  congregation,  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.  Several  of  his  descendants  are,  or  have  been, 
serving  the  church  in  the  ministry  of  reconciliation. 
Rev.  J.  C.  Lowrie,  D.  D.,  formerly  a  missionary  to  In- 
dia, and  the  late  Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  and  Rev.  Reu- 
ben P.  Lowrie,  missionaries  to  China,  and  Rev.  Josiah 
McPherrin,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany,  are  his 
grandsons. 

The  memory  of  Mr.  McPherrin  is  greatly  revered 
in  the  Butler  congregation.  Many  of  the  older  mem- 
bers remember,  and  relate  with  tearful  interest,  the  rec- 
ord of  his  ministry,  and  his  self-denying  labors,  and  his 
faithful  preaching  of  Christ,  and  his  humble  and  godly 
walk  and  conversation. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  255 

(17.)  BENJAMIN   BOYD. 

1804-1859. 

This  was  the  youngest  of  the  four  Boyd  brothers, 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  although  he  en- 
tered the  ministry  nearly  three  years  before  his  older 
brother  James. 

Benjamin  Boyd,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Fulton) 
Boyd,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  on  the 
25th  day  of  December,  1776.  He  probably  worked  on 
the  farm  with  his  father  and  brothers  until  near  his 
majority,  studying  for  a  time  with  his  good  pastor,  John 
McPherrin  (16),  until  he  went  to  Cannonsburg.  Here 
he  pursued  his  studies  at  the  academy,  and  graduated 
after  the  academy  had  become  a  college.  It  is  some- 
what uncertain  whether  he  studied  theology  with  his 
pastor,  or  with  Dr.  McMillan.  He  was  taken  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  -Erie,  as  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry,  on  the  2  2d  day  of  June,  1803.  "  An  Christus 
qua  Mediator  adorandus  sit,"  was  assigned  him  as  the 
theme  of  a  Latin  exegesis. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  this  Presby- 
tery, on  the  24th  day  of  October,  1804.  It  is  not  on 
record  how  or  where  he  spent  his  time  during  the  next 
two  years.  But  in  the  fall  of  1806  he  accepted  calls 
from  the  congregations  of  Trumbull,  Beula,  and  Pyma- 
tuning,  on  the  Western  Reserve,  or  eastern  part  of  Ohio, 
and  Mercer  County,  Pa.  Rom.  x.  4,  was  assigned  him 
as  a  subject  for  a  trial  sermon.  The  ordination  took 
place  at  Trumbull,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  day  of  November, 
1806,  Joseph  Stockton  (4)  preached  on  the  occasion, 
and  Samuel  Tait  (3)  delivered  the  charges.  This  pas- 
toral relation  continued  until   1809.     In  1811,  he  re- 


266  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

moved  to  Western  Virginia,  and  in  the  war  of  1812 
served  as  a  chaplain  in  the  army  in  Virginia,  under 
General  Leflridge.^ 

In  the  autumn  of  1814,  he  removed  to  Mason  County, 
Ky.  In  1827,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Cincinnati.  He  preached  for  a  time  at  Round  Bottom, 
Cheviot,  and  Harrison,  Ohio.  He  also  preached  for  a 
time  at  West  Liberty,  Indiana,  and  at  Dunlopsville  and 
vicinity.  At  this  time,  he  was  also  engaged  in  teaching, 
yet  preaching  as  opportunity  offered.  In  1829,  he  re- 
moved to  Newport,  Ky.,  where  he  was  engaged  for  a 
time  in  teaching. 

In  1834  and  1835,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Madison,  and  preached  at  Pleasant  church,  Ind. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  returned  to  Newport,  Ky.,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  on  the 
1st  day  of  October,  1859,  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his 
age  and  the  fifty-sixth  of  his  ministry.  His  death 
was  the  result  of  old  age,  hastened,  perhaps,  by  a  severe 
fall.  His  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  at 
Newport,  Ky. 

He  was  married  early  in  life  to  Miss  Anna  Findley. 
They  had  five  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Mr.  Boyd's  mind  was  probably  not  as  well  balanced  as 
that  of  his  other  brothers,  yet  in  many  respects,  he  was 
an  earnest  and  good  man.  His  was  a  life  of  grievous 
burdens  and  great  conflicts,  and  the  peace  and  the  rest 
of  the  good  Land  would  be  most  grateful  to  his  spirit. 

as.)  CYRUS  RIGGS. 

1805-1849. 

Mr.  Riggs  belonged  to  a  New  Jersey  family.     His 
ancestors  had  long  resided  in  that  State.     He  was  the 
1  Wilson's  Pres.  Hist.  Almanac. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  257 

son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Cook)  Riggs,  and  was  born 
in  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  on  the  15th  day  of 
October,  1774.  In  his  early  years  there  was  nothing 
remarkable  or  striking.  He  was  a  quiet,  unpretending 
boy,  intent  on  discharging  his  duty  and  standing  in  his 
lot.  From  New  Jersey,  Joseph  Riggs  removed  with  his 
family  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  settled  in 
Washington  County,  Pa.,  in  the  bounds  of  Lower  Ten 
Mile  congregation.  At  that  time  Cyrus  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age.  It  is  not  known  exactly  when  he 
became  a  professor  of  religion,  but  most  probably  soon 
after  coming  to  the  West,  for  a  short  time  after  we  find 
him  at  Cannon sburg  Academy,  in  preparation  for  the 
gospel  ministry. 

But  circumstances  seemed  adverse  to  his  plans.  His 
father  failed ;  his  substance  was  sacrificed,  and  the  son 
was  forced  to  abandon  his  studies  and  give  up  all  hope 
of  the  ministry.  On  the  25th  day  of  July,  1797,  Mr. 
Riggs  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter 
of  Edward  and  Phebe  Ross,  of  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  who  had  emigrated  from  New  Jersey  about  the 
same  time  with  the  Riggs'  family.  With  his  young  wife, 
he  removed  to  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  setttled  in  the 
same  congregation,  where  he  was  a  few  years  afterward 
ordained  as  pastor.  Here  he  commenced  the  laborious 
work  of  hewing  himself  out  a  home  in  the  forest,  with 
perhaps  no  thought  but  to  spend  his  days  in  subduing 
the  forest  and  cultivating  the  soil. 

Soon,  however,  Dr.  McMillan  found  him  and  pur- 
suaded  him  to  leave  his  axe  and  his  plough,  dispose  of 
his  little  home,  and  return  to  Cannonsburg  to  study. 
He  graduated  in  1803  at  Jefferson  College,  a  member 
of  the  second  class  that  graduated  under  the  charter. 
After  his  graduation,  he  was  employed  as  a  tutor  in  the 
17 


258  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

college,  in  the  mean  time  commencing  the  stndy  of  the- 
ology under  the  direction  of  Dr.  McMillan.  On  the 
18th  day  of  October,  he  was  taken  under  the  care  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  as  a  candidate  for  the  gospel 
ministry,  and  on  the  7th  day  of  October,  1805,  he  was, 
by  the  same  Presbytery,  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel. 
From  that  time  until  the  23d  day  of  October,  1806,  he 
was  engaged  in  supplying  vacant  churches  within  the 
bounds  of  Presbytery,  when  he  received  calls  to  labor 
in  the  congregations  of  Fairfield  and  Mill  Creek,  with- 
in the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  In  December 
of  the  same  year,  he  declared  his  acceptance  of  these 
calls,  and  was  dismissed  to  put  himself  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

On  the  21st  day  of  April,  1807,  Mr.  Riggs  was  re- 
ceived under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and 
on  the  21st  day  of  October,  1807,  he  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Fairfield  and  Mill 
Creek.  Mr.  Riggs'  trial  sermon  was  on  Psalms  Ixxi.  10. 
In  the  ordination  services,  Abraham  Boyd  (9)  preached 
the  sermon  from  Matthew  xxiv.  45,  and  Alexander 
Cook  (12)  delivered  the  charges. 

In  this  charge  Mr.  Riggs  continued  to  l^bor  until 
1812,  when  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved.  Having 
accepted  calls  from  the  congregations  of  Scrubgrass 
and  West  Unity  (now  Harrisville),  he  was  installed 
pastor  of  this  charge,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1814. 
Here  he  continued  to  labor  until  1834,  when  the  pas- 
toral relation  was  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alle- 
ghany. In  the  spring  of  1821  he  was  dismissed  with 
others  to  form  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany,  being  one 
of  its  original  members.  In  this  Presbytery  he  re- 
mained until  the  autumn  of  1835,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  settled  for 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  259 

a  short  time  in  the  neighborhood  of  Macomb,  McDon- 
ough  County.  In  the  summer  of  1838,  he  removed  to 
Washington  County,  in  the  same  State,  where  he  la- 
bored as  a  stated  supply,  in  the  churches  of  Elkhorn 
and  Galum,  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1849,  in  the  seventy-fifth 
year  of  his  age,  and  forty-fifth  of  his  ministry.  His 
wife  had  died  about  four  years  previously.  Their  re- 
mains rest  together  in  the  cemetery  of  the  Elkhorn 
church. 

Mr.  Kiggs  was  a  quiet,  even  taciturn  man.  He  sel- 
dom made  any  allusion  to  his  own  life  and  labors.  His 
great  aim  was  to  do  good  and  keep  his  people  up  to  the 
requirements  of  the  gospel.  He  loved  Zion  and  her 
cause  dearly.  Like  all  the  early  ministers  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, he  labored  under  great  inconveniences  from  the 
smallness  of  his  salary,  and  the  difficulties  that  attend 
new  fields  of  labor.  He  was  a  man  of  peace.  He 
embarked  in  no  partisan  schemes,  yet  feeling  that  in 
congregational  matters  his  own  judgment  was  right,  he 
generally  managed  to  secure  the  success  of  his  plans. 
This  he  did,  not  by  open  opposition,  or  dogmatic  asser- 
tion of  power,  but  by  quietly  removing  obstacles  out  of 
the  way,  allaying  prejudices,  and  meekly  answering 
objections,  until  the  way  was  open  and  the  people  sat- 
isfied. 

He  had  the  usual  prejudices  of  the  times  to  meet 
with.  One  of  these  was,  that  relating  to  the  subject 
of  psalmody.  During  his  ministry  at  Scrubgrass  and 
Unity,  he  passed  through  the  transition  from  the  psalms 
of  Rouse,  to  the  psalms  and  hymns  of  Watts.  He  was 
anxious  for  a  wider  range  of  subject  than  was  found 
in  the  former,  and  for  the  rich,  evangelic  strains  that 
were  found  in- the  latter.     But  it  required  all  his  tact 


260  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

of  quiet  prudence  and  firm  resolution,  to  bring  about 
the  change.     And  in  this  he  was  eminently  successful. 

Mr.  Riggs  had  eight  children,  five  daughters  and 
three  sons.  One  of  his  sons,  Cyrus  Carpenter  Riggs, 
D.  D.,  is  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver.  His 
eldest  daughter,  Hannah  Riggs,  was  long  a  missionary 
to  the  Indians.  She  was  one  of  the  company  of  mis- 
sionaries that  went  to  labor  amongst  the  Ottowas,  on 
the  Maumee  River.  Of  this  company  was  Samuel 
Tait  (3),  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Cool  Spring,  Salem, 
and  Mercer,  and  famous  in  his  day  for  missionary  labor. 
In  this  missionary  work  did  this  devoted  female  labor, 
suffering  hardships  and  privations  of  various  kinds  ; 
now  from  cold,  and  now  from  a  scarcity  of  provisions, 
and  again  from  repeated  attacks  of  fever  and  ague, 
until  the  mission  was  broken  up,  eleven  years  after  its 
establishment.  This  mission  was  inaugurated  by  the 
Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  but  was  afterwards  transferred  to 
the  American  Board  of  Missions. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  Mr.  Riggs  to  labor  up  to  the 
close  of  his  pilgrimage.  His  last  disease  was  paralysis. 
It  came  upon  him  as  he  sat  in  his  study  making  prep- 
aration for  preaching  on  the  following  Sabbath.  The 
first  shock  was  slight,  and  hardly  perceptible.  In  the 
course  of  half  an  hour  another  shock  fell  upon  him 
that  prostrated  him,  and  laid  him  helpless  and  speech- 
less. He  lingered  but  three  days,  unable  to  communi- 
cate his  ideas  or  feelings,  when  he  passed  away  from 
his  labors  on  earth  to  his  reward  on  high. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  261 

(19.)  RETD  BRACKEN. 

1805-1849. 

Mr.  Bracken  was  a  fair  specimen  of  the  early 
pioneer  ministers  of  the  West.  His  early  training  had 
developed  a  stalwart  physical  constitution,  and  a  faith 
and  patience  and  self-denial  that  eminently  adapted 
him  to  his  great  life-work  —  that  of  preaching  the  gos- 
pel to  the  destitute  settlements. 

Reid  Bracken  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Anne 
(Shannon)  Bracken,  and  was  born  in  York  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1778.  When  he  was  an  in- 
fant of  six  weeks  old,  his  father  removed  with  his  family 
into  Washington  County,  in  the  same  State,  and  found  a 
home  in  what  was  soon  to  become  the  congregation  of 
Chartiers.  The  same  year  Rev.  John  McMillan  began 
to  preach  statedly  to  the  people  of  that  neighborhood. 
Thomas  Bracken  was  one  of  the  first  elders  elected  after 
the  organization  of  the  church,  and  his  little  son  Reid, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  first  child  baptized  in 
the  congregation,  and  indeed  the  first  male  child  baptized 
west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  Mrs.  Bracken,  the 
mother  of  Reid,  was  a  woman  of  strong  good  sense  and 
great  decision  of  character,  and  brought  up  her  family 
in  the  fear  of  God.  Mr.  Bracken  was  a  farmer,  and 
accustomed  to  labor,  and  brought  up  his  son  to  the 
same  avocation,  until  he  was  nearly  of  age,  when  finding 
his  mind  inclined  to  study,  and  with  a  desire  for  prep- 
aration for  the  ministry,  he  furnished  him  with  a  Latin 
Grammar,  and  the  work  of  preparation  commenced. 

Reid  Bracken  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1802, 
being  a  member  of  the  first  class  that  graduated  after 
the  College  was  chartered.     His  name  stands  at  the 


262  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

head  of  the  list,  with  the  names  of  Johnston  Eaton  (20), 
William  McMillan,  and  Israel  Pickens,  as  classmates. 
Of  course  he  studied  theology  with  Dr.  McMillan,  and  in 
due  time  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio.  This  occurred  on  the  17th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1805.  He  travelled  one  year  in  Ohio  and  Virginia, 
preaching  to  vacant  churches.  In  the  year  1806,  he 
went  to  Butler  County,  Pa.,  where  he  received  calls  to 
the  pastoral  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Mount  Nebo 
and  Plain.  On  the  20th  day  of  October,  1807,  he  was 
received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and 
Isaiah  liii.  11,  middle  clause,  assigned  him  as  a  subject 
of  trials  for  ordination.  On  the  20th  day  of  April,  1808, 
he  was  ordained  to  the  whole  work  of  the  ministry,  and 
installed  pastor  of  these  churches.  In  these  exercises, 
William  Wood  (10)  preached  the  sermon,  and  Nicholas 
Pittinger  (15)  delivered  the  charges.  In  these  congrega- 
tions he  labored  faithfully,  giving  one  half  of  his  time  to 
each  until  October  7, 1819,  when  he  was  released  from 
the  Plain  Church,  and  on  the  28th  of  September,  1820, 
installed  as  pastor  of  Middlesex.  His  labors  continued 
in  the  church  of  Middlesex  until  1832,  when  he  resigned, 
and  became  pastor  of  the  church  of  Portersville.  But 
during  all  these  years  he  continued  to  give  the  half  of 
his  time  to  Mount  Nebo,  being  pastor  there  for  the 
period  of  thirty-seven  years.  About  five  years  before 
his  death  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge.  He  felt  the 
infirmities  of  age  coming  upon  him,  and  not  being  able 
to  go  in  and  out  before  the  people  as  in  his  earlier 
days,  give  way  to  more  vigorous  laborers.  Still  he  con- 
tinued to  preach,  as  opportunity  offered,  until  the  close 
of  his  life.  His  last  sermon  to  his  old  charge  at  Mount 
Nebo,  was  from  the  words  of  the  Apostle,  1  Cor.  xii.  27, 
"  Now  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  members  in  par- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  263 

ticular."  This  discourse  will  long  be  remembered  by 
that  people.  One  week  before  his  death,  he  rode  ten 
miles  and  preached  to  one  of  his  old  congregations 
from  the  words,  "  They  shall  be  mine,  saith  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  in  that  day  when  I  make  up  my  jewels."  It 
was  his  last  sermon,  and  so  strong  was  the  impression 
made  upon  the  minds  of  his  friends,  that  after  he  was 
laid  in  his  last  sleep,  these  words  were  engraved  upon 
his  tombstone. 

He  was  confined  to  his  couch  but  a  few  days  during 
his  last  illness.  Three  days  previous  to  his  decease,  he 
was  asked  whether  he  had  anything  to  say  to  his  family 
previous  to  his  departure.  He  addressed  them  as  fol- 
lows, the  words  being  taken  down  by  one  of  the  family 
at  the  time :  — 

"  My  children,  you  are  all  here.  It  is  a  solemn  time. 
From  present  appearances  I  am  about  to  leave  you,  hav- 
ing served  my  generation,  and  am  going  to  render  up 
my  account  to  my  Judge.  I  have  a  comfortable  hope  of 
meeting  my  Savior  in  peace,  and  spending  eternity  in 
happiness.  It  is  of  the  greatest  consequence  to  have  a 
hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed.  It  is  my  sincere  desire 
that  all  my  children  should  be  prepared.^  .... 
Give  all  diligence   to  make  your  calling  and  election 

sure Rely  upon  the  merits  of   Christ  as 

the  only  foundation  of  hope Now  is  the 

accepted  time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.  Salvation 
is  free  to  all  that  will  accept.  Come  unto  me  all  ye 
that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest." 

This  address  was   followed  by  a  short  and  feeling 
prayer.    And  so  he  went  down  into  the  valley,  leanirfg  on 
the  rod  and  staff  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  passed  over 
1  Some  of  his  words  were  inaudible. 


264  PRESBYTERY    OF    ERIE. 

the  river  to  dwell  with  God.  He  died  on  his  farm  in 
Butler  County,  Pa.,  on  the  29th  day  of  July,  1849,  in 
the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age  and  the  forty-fourth 
of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Bracken  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Graham,  of  Lexington,  Va.,  on  the  1st  day  of  May, 
1806.  She  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  that  distin- 
guished servant  of  God,  Rev.  William  Graham,  founder 
of  Washington  College,  Virginia,  to  whom  frequent  ref- 
erence is  made  in  the  life  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. 
After  a  long  and  useful  life,  she  went  to  rejoin  her  hus- 
band in  eternal  union,  December  30,  1863,  in  the  sev- 
enty-eighth year  of  her  age.  They  had  eight  children. 
Mr.  Bracken  moved  to  Butler  County  when  it  was 
new  and  the  people  poor.  Like  his  people,  he  com- 
menced in  the  woods,  and  by  the  labor  of  his  own  hands 
cut  down  the  forest,  and  opened  for  himself  a  farm, 
which  he  afterwards  cultivated  with  his  own  hands,  to 
assist  in  the  support  of  his  family.  His  sons  well  re- 
member the  time  when  his  practice  was,  to  labor  in  the 
fields  five  days  in  the  week,  and  devote  the  Saturday  to 
the  work  of  preparation  for  the  pulpit.  He  was  a  stal- 
wart man,  and  could  excel  most  able-bodied  men  in 
laboring  with  an  axe,  or  in  the  harvest-field.  His  phys- 
ical health  was  almost  uniformly  good;  and  with  all 
his  labor  on  his  farm  his  mind  did  not  become  secular- 
ized. 

He  labored  faithfully  in  the  Master's  field.  Many 
churches  were  built  up  through  the  instrumentality  of 
his  labors.  He  was  not  a  fluent  speaker.  He  knew 
nothing  of  the  eloquence  that  holds  an  audience  spell- 
bound through  the  beauty  of  tropes,  and  the  grand 
flow  of  fitly  chosen  words.  Yet  he  could  set  forth  Christ 
crucified  with  love  and  zeal  and  effect.     He  stood  high 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  265 

in  the  estimation  of  his  brethren,  as  a  sound  and  earnest 
preacher  of  the  New  Testament. 

As  a  member  of  ecclesiastical  courts,  he  was  punctual 
and  attentive.  He  seldom  spoke,  yet  when  he  did,  it 
was  to  the  point,  and  his  remarks  always  had  great 
weight. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Alleghany,  and  continued  a  member  until  his 
death. 

(20.)  JOHNSTON  EATON. 

1805-1847. 

Johnston  Eaton,  son  of  John  Eaton,  was  born 
in  Rocky  Spring  Congregation,  Franklin  County,  Pa., 
on  the  7th  day  of  February,  1776.  His  ancestors  had 
long  been  dwellers  in  Pennsylvania.  An  old  patriarch, 
now  deceased,  related  that  he  had  seen  five  generations 
of  the  Eatons  in  that  congregation.  Little  is  now 
known  of  his  early  years,  for  he  was  quiet  and  reticent 
in  regard  to  anything  that  concerned  himself  In 
1801,  he  entered  the  Junior  class  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  where  he  remained  one  year,  at  the  close 
of  which,  the  college  building  being  burned,  he  repaired 
to  Cannonsburg,  and  entered  the  Senior  class  of  Jeffer- 
son College,  at  which  institution  he  graduated  in  the 
autumn  of  1802,  a  member  of  the  first  class  that  grad- 
uated under  the  charter.  His  classmates  were,  Rev. 
Reid  Bracken  (19),  Rev.  William  McMillan,  D.  D., 
President  of  Jefferson  College,  Israel  Pickens,  Gover- 
nor of  Alabama,  and  Rev.  John  Rhea. 

His  theological  education  was  completed  under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  John  McMillan,  when  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  on  the 
22d  day  of  August,  1805.     His  constitution,  naturally 


266  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

delicate  and  sensitive,  being  much  broken,  and  his  ener- 
gies weakened  by  laborious  application,  he  determined 
to  spend  some  time  in  travelling  and  visiting  the  desti- 
tutions of  the  West.  After  visiting  Erie  County,  which 
was  to  be  the  scene  of  his  future  life-labors,  he  spent  a 
year  in  the  southern  part  of  Ohio.  In  1806  he  re- 
turned to  Erie  County,  and  took  up  his  abode  there. 
His  first  sermon  there  was  preached  in  a  small  log 
tavern  at  the  mouth  of  Walnut  Creek,  kept  by  Captain- 
Swan.  The  country  at  this  time  was  literally  a  wilder- 
ness. The  mighty,  grand  old  forest,  was  hardly  broken 
by  the  woodman's  axe.  There  were  not  more  than  two 
or  three  churches  in  the  county,  and  at  the  period  of  his 
coming,  not  a  minister  of  any  denomination. 

He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on  the 
30th  day  of  June,  1808.  The  services  were  held  in 
William  Sturgeon's  barn,  near  the  present  site  of  the 
village  of  Fairview.  Mr.  Johnston  (14)  preached  on  the 
occasion,  and  Mr.  Stockton  (4)  delivered  the  charges. 
He  was  installed  at  the  same  time  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gations of  Fairview  and  Springfield,  a  relation  he  sus- 
tained to  the  former  during  the  remainder  of  his  life, 
a  period  of  forty  years.  He  was  released  from  the 
charge  of  Springfield  on  the  8th  of  November,  1814. 
He  then  divided  his  time  between  Fairview,  Erie,  and 
North  East.  This  arrangement  continued  until  1818, 
when  North  East  was  dropped,  and  his  time  divided 
between  Erie  and  Fairview,  until  1823. 

The  fragment  of  an  old  journal  recites  something  of 
his  early  experience  :  "  Preached  three  months  in  the 
congregations  of  Fairview,  Springfield,  and  Mill 
Creek  (probably  near  Erie),  beginning  July,  1806,  at 
ninety  dollars  per  quarter." 

In  the  year  1813,  during  the  war  with  Great  Britain, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  267 

he  was  employed  as  a  government  chaplain,  and  minis- 
tered to  the  troops  stationed  at  Erie.  He  also  preached 
for  a  portion  of  his  time  at  Harbor  Creek,  Waterford, 
Washington,  and  McKean,  in  Erie  County,  Pa.  He 
continued  to  labor  in  the  congregation  of  Fairview  imtil 
the  close  of  his  earthly  toils.  He  met  with  his  people 
for  the  last  time  in  December,  1846,  when  feeling  that 
it  was  the  last  time,  he  committed  them  to  God  and  the 
word  of  his  grace,  when  his  people  separated,  not  to 
meet  again  until  they  met  to  mingle  their  tears  over  his 
grave. 

His  death  took  place,  at  what  had  been  his  earthly 
home  for  nearly  forty  years,  on  the  17th  day  of  June, 
1847,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
forty-third  of  his  ministry.  His  disease  was  paralysis, 
which  not  only  prostrated  his  physical  powers  but 
greatly  obscured  his  mental  faculties.  Yet  he  was  not 
without  the  comforting  presence  of  God.  He  who  has 
said,  "  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be 
with  thee,  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  over- 
flow thee,"  was  with  him  in  the  darkest  hour  of  his 
pain  and  languishing.  At  times  when  the  veil  seemed 
lifted,  his  mind  was  full  of  peace  and  tranquillity.  And 
so  he  passed  away :  a  meek,  quiet,  humble,  faithful  min- 
ister of  Jesus  Christ. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1807,  Mr.  Eaton  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  Canon,  of  Fayette 
County,  Pa.,  a  niece  of  Colonel  John  Canon,  the  founder 
of  Cannonsburg.  They  had  nine  children  :  six  sons 
and  three  daughters.  One  of  the  daughters  died  in 
childhood,  the  other  children  are  living  and  members  of 
the  visible  church. 

In  person,  Mr.  Eaton  was  below  the  ordinary  stature, 
about  five  feet  seven  in  height,  and  always  light  and 


268  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

slender.  He  had  a  mild  blue  eye,  with  a  tinge  of  sad- 
ness in  its  cast,  nose  approaching  the  aquiline,  with  thin 
brown  hair,  that  did  not  become  entirely  gray  in  his  old 
age.  There  was  a  nervous  sensitiveness  about  him 
that  rendered  him  particularly  averse  to  anything  like 
display  or  outward  show  of  any  kind.  He  had  naturally 
»  quick  sensibilities,  that  would  have  led  many  a  man  into 
occasional  exhibitions  of  temper,  but  he  possessed  most 
admirable  control  over  his  feelings  and  could  rule  his 
own  spirit  in  every  emergency. 

He  did  not  write  his  sermons,  but  preached  from  a 
brief  skeleton,  which  was  carefully  drawn  out  and  sys- 
tematized, and  generally  kept  in  his  pocket-Bible  whilst 
preaching.  His  sermons  were  all  digested  thoroughly 
before  delivery,  and  presented  with  freedom  and  unc- 
tion. 

The  Record  of  Presbytery,  on  occasion  of  his  death, 
is  in  part,  in  these  words  :  "  He  was  uniformly  meek, 
gentle,  and  forbearing,  generous  and  hospitable.  As  a 
preacher,  he  was  clear,  logical,  instructive,  and  evan- 
gelical, and  eminently  sound  in  the  faith.  In  his  death 
the  Boards  of  our  church,  and  the  cause  of  benevolent 
effort  for  the  salvation  of  a  perishing  world,  have  lost  a 
devoted  friend." 

One  of  his  pupils  ^  says  of  him :  "  He  was  one  of 
the  most  conscientious  persons  I  ever  knew.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his  suavity  of 
manners  and  Christian  consistency.  He  was  a  careful 
reader,  an  able  theologian,  and  a  correct  thinker,  and  his 
mind,  to  work,  must  have  arrangement.  I  owe  more  to 
him  than  to  all  other  men  for  my  place  in  the  ministry, 
and  my  success  too.  The  interest  he  took  in  me  is  to 
me  unacountable.  "When  a  boy,  he  sought  me  out  and 
1  Rev.  G.  W.  Hampson  (43). 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  269 

gave  me  the  course.  I  hope  to  meet  him  again.  Till 
then  no  more.     He  rests  from  his  labors." 

Says  another  correspondent/  who  knew  and  appreci- 
ated him  : "  "  In  some  respects  Mr.  Eaton  and  Mr.  Doo- 
little  were  alike.  They  were  both  zealous  ministers  of 
Christ,  uncompromising  where  duty  was  concerned,  both 
determined  to  know  nothing  but  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified,  and  both  had  great  dignity  of  ministerial  char- 
acter. But  I  think  there  was  a  certain  genial  humor 
about  Mr.  Eaton  that  Mr.  Doolittle  did  not  possess.  He 
knew  how  to  unbend  without  letting  himself  down,  and 
could  be,  occasionally,  both  merry  and  witty.  I  think  he 
was  a  man  of  great  delicacy  of  feeling,  and  had  a  rev- 
erence almost  sacred  for  the  personality  and  conscious- 
ness of  others.  He  possessed  that  manly  attribute,  a 
strong  will,  and  was  sometimes  what  people  call  set  in 
his  way,  but  at  the  same  time  his  great  kindness,  his 
generosity  and  disinterestedness  were  more  than  an 
offset  to  that.  I  never  knew  a  more  honorable,  just, 
generous,  unselfish  man.  How  well  his  people  loved 
and  reverenced  him,  you  must  know.  I  think  the 
Scotch-Irish  characteristics  were  strongly  developed  in 
him.  He  lived  at  a  time  when  the  church  was  in  a 
transition  state,  or  was  becoming  Americanized,  and 
held  firmly  to  the  fathers." 

His  mortal  remains  await  the  resurrection  near  the 
spot  on  which  he  was  ordained  nearly  forty  years  before 
his  death. 

(21.)  JAMES  BOYD. 

1807-1813. 

James  Boyd,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Fulton)  Boyd, 
was  the  last  of  the  four  brothers  to  enter  the  ministry. 
1  Miss  Jacks. 


270  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

He  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County.  Pa.,  in  1774. 
After  studying  with  his  pastor  for  a  time,  he  went  to 
Cannonsburg,  and  completed  his  classical  studies  at 
Jefferson  College.  He  then  studied  theology  with  Dr. 
McMillan.  He  was  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  on  the 
10th  of  April,  1806,  and  assigned  as  a  theme  for  a 
Latin  exegesis,  "^/i  angeli  per  mortem  Christi  hene- 
facti  sint  f  " 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  same 
Presbytery  on  the  22d  day  of  April,  1807.  He  labored 
as  a  supply  in  various  portions  of  the  Presbytery,  and 
in  the  autumn  of  1808,  having  accepted  calls  from  the 
churches  of  Newton  and  Warren,  Ohio,  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  their  pastor  at  Warren,  Ohio,  on  the 
19th  day  of  October,  1808.  In  these  services  William 
Wick  (2)  preached  the  sermon,  and  Thomas  Edgar 
Hughes  (1)  delivered  the  charges.  On  the  next  day 
he  was  dismissed  to  become  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford,  now  Beaver,  which 
had  been  created  that  fall  by  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh. 

The  conorreorations  of  Newton  and  Warren  were  his 
only  charge.  His  ministry  was  brief.  His  labors  were 
short.  The  purpose  of  his  heart  and  the  work  of  his 
hands  were  accepted,  and  he  was  called  to  a  higher 
sphere  of  service  above.  He  died  at  Warren,  Ohio,  on 
the  8th  day  of  March,  1813,  in  the  thirty-ninth  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  sixth  of  his  ministry.  His  dust  slum- 
bers with  that  of  his  people. 

Mr.  Boyd  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Isabella 
Craig.  They  had  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter. 

A  lady  in  Tarentum,  Pa.,  still  living,  relates  that  she 
has  seen  all  four  of  the  Boyd  brothers  in  the  pulpit  at 
the  same  time. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  271 

(22.)  JOHN  MATTHEWS. 

1809-1861. 

This  old  patriarch  could  say  with  one  of  old,  "  T  am 
a  stranger  and  a  sojourner  with  you."  His  was  essen- 
tially a  missionary  life.  From  youth  to  extreme  old 
age,  the  lot  ordained  for  him  by  Providence,  was  to 
labor  in  new  settlements,  found  churches,  and  travel 
from  place  to  place.  Difficulties  never  seemed  to  be  in 
the  way,  so  as  to  discourage  him.  Hardships  seemed 
to  be  his  familiar  friends,  and  to  urge  him  on  to  labor. 
Yet  withal,  he  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  has  left  be- 
hind him  a  beautiful  record  of  labor  and  self-denial, 
and  sacrifice  in  the  Master's  service. 

John  Matthews  was  the  son  of  James  and  Prudence 
(Gordon)  Matthews,  and  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Pa.,  on  the  7th  day  of  February,  1778.  His  parents 
were  of  the  good  old  Scotch-Irish  blood,  and  had 
brought  their  notions  of  duty  and  religion  with  them 
across  the  waters.  And  from  such  stock,  ideas  of  faith 
and  duty  and  practice  do  not  readily  change  or  run 
out.  So  we  find  the  subject  of  this  sketch  carefully 
brought  up  and  educated  in  the  principles  of  our  holy 
religion. 

He  entered  Jefferson  College  in  the  year  1805,  and 
graduated  in  1807,  when  he  was  nearly  thirty  years  of 
age.  After  this  he  entered  the  only  theological  sem- 
inary that  was  then  known  west  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains,  namely,  the  little  log-cabin  of  Rev.  John 
McMillan,  D.  D.  Here  he  studied  patiently  and  per- 
severingly,  writing  out  at  full  length  a  system  of  theol- 
ogy, taken  from  the  Doctor's  lectures.  This  system  is 
still  extant,  and  may  be  found  amongst  his  papers. 


272  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Ohio,  on  the  22cl  day  of  June,  1809..  On  the 
26th  of  June,  1810,  he  presented  a  certificate  of  dismis- 
sion from  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  was  received 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  At  the 
same  time  calls  were  presented  for  his  pastoral  labors 
from  the  congregations  of  Waterford  and  Gravel  Run. 
These  calls  were  accepted,  and  on  the  17th  of  October 
following,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  their  pastor. 
Robert  Johnston  (14)  preached  on  the  occasion,  and 
Samuel  Tait  (3)  presided  and  delivered  the  charges. 
On  the  8th  of  November,  1814,  he  was  released  from 
his  charge  at  Gravel  Run,  and  employed  the  portion  of 
his  time  appropriated  there  to  the  congregations  of 
Conneautee  and  Union.  On  the  2d  of  April,  1817,  his 
pastoral  relation  to  Waterford  was  dissolved,  and  on 
the  15th  of  February  following,  he  was  dismissed  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  to  seek  a  connection  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Missouri.^ 

The  missionary  spirit  abounded  in  the  heart  of  Mr. 
Matthews,  even  at  that  early  day,  and  he  sought  the 
release  from  his  charges  in  Erie  Presbytery,  with  the 
view  -of  itinerating  in  the  great  West.  Many  people 
from  Western  Pennsylvania  were  emigrating  to  the  new 
regions  of  Illinois  and  Missouri,  and  the  prospect 
seemed  most  inviting  to  go  with  them  and  assist  in 
building  up  churches,  and  thus  keep  abreast  with  the 
swelling  tide  of  emigration  that  was  rolling  thither. 

We  quote  from  Wilson's  "Pres.  Historical  Almanac," 
vol.  iv.  102,  103  :  "  He  started  on  his  journey  West, 
going  down  the  Ohio  River  on  a  flat-boat  as  far  as 
Louisville,  Ky.,  then  on  horseback  through  Indiana  by 
way  of  Vincennes,  then  through  the  territory  of  Illinois 
1  Old  Minutes. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  273 

to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  met  with  -Rev.  Salmon  Gid- 
dings,  who  was  one  of  the  first  Presbyterian  ministers 
who  crossed  the  Mississippi  River.  From  St.  Louis  he 
went  up  the  Missouri  River  to  St.  Charles,  and  took 
charge  of  the  church  at  Louisiana,  Pike  County,  Mo., 
where  he  continued  preaching  and  itinerating  amongst 
the  destitutions  of  that  vicinity,  until  1825." 

"  In  the  fall  of  1825  he  settled  at  Apple  Creek  Church, 
in  Cape  Girardeau  County,  Missouri.  After  remaining 
there  about  two  years,  he  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  Ran- 
dolph County,  111.  At  that  place  he  served  the  church, 
and  itinerated  eight  or  ten  years  (sometimes  teaching 
and  farming,  to  eke  out  a  meagre  support,  as  some  min- 
isters have  to  do  yet  in  the  West).  He  then  served 
the  Sugar  Creek  Church  in  Madison  County,  Illinois, 
about  two  years,  and  then  returned  to  Missouri. 

"  He  spent  one  year  in  Missouri,  and  received  a  call 
to  a  church  in  Ohio,  which  he  served  four  or  five  years, 
but  which  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  in  consequence 
of  the  failure  of  his  health.  He  then  spent  some  time 
in  Greenville,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  with  his  friends, 
preaching  as  occasion  might  offer,  and  his  health  per- 
mit. 

"  After  a  few  years'  sojourn  in  Pennsylvania,  his 
health  having  improved  to  some  extent,  he  again  re- 
turned to  Missouri,  where  he  rode  and  preached  imtil 
his  health  again  gave  way.  About  ten  or  eleven  years 
ago,  he  moved  to  Georgetown,  Randolph  County,  111., 
where  he  ended  his  days.  For  several  years  he  preached 
but  seldom,  in  consequence  of  the  infirmities  of  age, 
and  of  a  worn-out  constitution." 

Mr.  Matthews  was  one  of  the  first  ministers  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Missouri,  and  is  justly  re:;arded 
as  one  of  the  pioneers.  At  this  time  there  was  a;  noble 
18 


274  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

trio  of  men,  Giddings,  Matthews,  and  Flint,  who  were 
bending  all  their  energies  in  order  to  build  up  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom  in  this  new  region.  Of  Matthews,  a 
valued  historian  ^  says  :  "  He  was  a  workman  that 
needed  not  to  be  ashamed,  in  labors  most  abundant, 
and,  with  all  his  itinerancy,  a  thorough  student  of 
theology." 

The  labors  of  these  men  were  most  arduous.  For 
several  years  after  their  arrival,  there  was  but  a  single 
settled  pastor  in  the  territory.  Says  Gillett,  "  The  bur- 
den, devolved  upon  Messrs.  Giddings,  Matthews,  and 
Flint,  was  almost  crushing.  But  the  calm,  resolute 
energy  and  self-possession  of  the  first,  and  the  untiring 
energies  of  the  others  did  not  give  way." 

Mr.  Matthews  preached  the  opening  sermon  of  the 
first  Presbytery  formed  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  ; 
also  the  opening  sermon  of  Kaskaskia  Presbytery  in 
Illinois. 

But  the  Messenger  came  at  last,  and  summoned  him 
to  his  rest  —  "  being  old  and  full  of  days." 

A  brother  in  the  ministry  ^  thus  sums  up  his  charac- 
ter :  **  Father  Matthews,  as  he  was  usually  called,  was 
a  kind  and  affectionate  husband,  a  warm-hearted  and 
cheerful  Christian,  and  was  kind  and  obliging  to  his 
neighbors.  He  enjoyed  the  company  of  his  brethren 
and  friends  very  much.  He  was  punctual  in  the  dis- 
charge of  every  known  duty.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer, 
labored  hard,  and  went  through  many  hardships,  trials, 
and  privations  which  he  endured  with  patience  and 
Christian  fortitude.  '  And  now  his  labors  are  ended, 
and  we  trust  he  is  at  rest  in  heaven.'  " 

His  death  was  the  result  of  the  decay  of  his  vital 

1  Gillett's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  ii.  430,  431. 

2  Rev.  D.  A.  Wallace,  in  Pres.  Hist.  Almanac. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  275 

powers,  through  old  age,  and  the  wearing  out  of  his 
system  by  the  labors  of  more  than  fourscore  years. 
His  death  occurred  at  Georgetown,  111.,  on  the  12th 
day  of  May,  1861,  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Nancy  Bracken,  of  Cannonsburg,  Pa.  His  second 
wife  was  Miss  Anna  Smith,  of  Missouri,  who  survives 
him.     He  had  no  children. 

(23.)  ROBERT  McGARRAUGH. 

1803-1839. 

Robert  McGarraugh,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane 
McGarraugh,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa., 
on  the  9th  day  of  January,  1771.  It  is  not  known 
here  how  his  early  life  was  passed ;  most  probably  in 
the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture.  For  a  time  he 
studied  with  Dr.  James  Dunlap,  afterwards  President  of 
Jefferson  College  ;  and  for  a  time  with  Rev.  David 
Smith,  in  the  "  forks  of  Yough."  After  this  he  was  at 
the  Cannonsburg  Academy.  He  pursued  his  theolog- 
ical studies  with  Dr.  McMillan,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1803. 

In  the  same  year  he  visited  the  region  that  is  now 
Clarion  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  preached  for  some 
time  to  the  families  that  were  settled  there,  and  then 
returned  to  his  family,  then  in  Fayette  County,  Pa. 
Being  invited  to  settle  in  the  Clarion  region,  he  gath- 
ered together  his  household  effects,  and  with  his  family 
set  out  for  the  wilderness  home,  which  he  reached  on 
the  1st  of  June,  1804.  They  were  seven  or  eight  days 
making  the  journey,  which  was  performed  on  horseback. 
The  mother  and  two  of  the  children  rode  on  one  horse. 


276  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

All  the  kitchen  furniture  was  packed  upon  another, 
"  Old  Dick,"  and  the  oldest  son,  John,  mounted  upon 
the  top  of  this.  Thus  accoutred,  Mr.  McGarraugh 
sought  the  field  of  his  labor.  They  were  detained  one 
day  at  Mahoning,  and  another  at  Red  Bank  Creek,  as 
they  were  obliged  to  make  canoes  to  get  across,  in  the 
meanwhile  swimming  their  horses.  The  first  year  the 
family  lived  in  a  log-cabin,  twelve  or  sixteen  feet  square, 
having  a  door  made  of  chestnut  bark. 

Mr.  McGarraugh  was  the  first  Presbyterian  minister 
who  preached  the  gospel  east  of  the  Alleghany  River, 
in  what  is  now  Clarion  County.  He  was  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  on  the  12th  of  November, 
1807,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  churches  of  New  Re- 
hoboth  and  Licking. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1811,  he  was,  with  his  con- 
gregations, detached  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
by  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  and  connected  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  On  the  3d  of  April,  1822,  his 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  with  New  Rehoboth 
and  Licking.  He  labored  after  this  time  at  Calensburg, 
Concord,  and  some  other  places  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 

Mr.  McGarraugh  died  in  Perry  Township,  Clarion 
County  (then  Armstrong),  Pa.,  on  the  17th  day  of  July, 
1839,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirty- 
sixth  of  his  ministry.  Of  him  his  successor  ^  in  the 
pastoral  work  says,  "  He  was  an  humble,  faithful,  godly, 
self-denying,  and  laborious  minister  of  the  gospel ;  who 
labored  long  and  well,  and  laid  deep  the  foundations  of 
Presbyterianism  in  this  region  of  country." 

He  was  not  a  man  of  remarkable  ability,  nor  was  he 
1  Rev.  James  Montgomery. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  '  277 

blessed  with  the  gift  of  eloquence.  But  he  had  at 
heart  the  good  of  immortal  souls,  and  the  glory  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ.  He  was  not  afraid  of  hardships ; 
he  did  not  love  money ;  he  sought  not  human  applause. 
And  so  he  was  adapted  to  his  field  of  labor.  He 
pleased  the  people,  and  God  was  with  him.  He  was  a 
plain,  unassuming  man,  intent  only  on  this  one  thing  — 
to  stand  in  his  lot  and  do  his  duty.  And  thus  he  lived, 
and  to-day  his  memory  is  fragrant,  whilst  that  of  more 
highly  gifted  men  is  a  by-word.  To-day  his  record  is 
higher  than  the  stars,  for  it  is  written  in  God's  great 
book  of  remembrance. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1795,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Levina  Stille.  She  was  born 
March  30,  177;^,  and  brought  up  in  Washington  Coun- 
ty, Pa.  Her  father  was  from  New  Jersey.  They  had 
seven  children,  four  daughters,  and  three  sons ;  some 
of  whom  have  passed  away  from  earth. 

(24.)  IRA  CONDIT. 

1811-1836. 

Ira  Condit  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  He  was 
born  near  Morristown,  and  in  the  same  county  with 
Cyrus  Riggs  (18)  and  John  Munson  (28),  on  the  6th 
day  of  March,  1772.  Of  his  early  life  little  is  pre- 
served. He  was  a  modest,  unassuming  man,  and  think- 
ing that  there  was  little  of  interest  in  his  early  life,  has 
left  nothing  on  record.  But  he  is  known  to  have  been 
an  earnest,  conscientious  Christian,  as  well  as  a  devoted 
minister  of  Christ,  and  we  may  well  suppose  that  his 
early  life  was  passed  in  quietness  and  peace,  standing 
in  his  lot  as  best  he  could. 

His  early  life  was  that  of  a  farmer,  and  even  before 


278  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

entering  upon  the  preparation  for  the  ministry  had  had 
experience  of  the  rough  life  of  the  new  settlements,  and 
of  the  hardships  of  the  frontier.  In  the  year  1798  he 
emigrated  to  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  settled  within  a 
mile  of  where  the  Fairfield  church  now  stands,  little 
knowing  that  there  was  to  be  the  scene  of  his  future 
labors  in  the  Lord's  spiritual  vineyard.  He  does  not 
seem  at  that  time  to  have  thought  of  the  ministry,  for 
his  great  work  appears  to  have  been  to  open  up  a  farm 
and  erect  for  himself  a  home  and  a  fireside,  where 
he  might  spend  his  life  comfortably  and  usefully. 

About  the  year  1800  he  went  to  Washington  County, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Miller,  whose  father  was  afterwards  a  member  of  Amity 
church.  With  his  wife  he  returned  to  his  farm  on 
Sandy  Creek,  settling  down  to  the  peaceful  life  of  a 
farmer,  but  no  doubt  oppressed  with  the  destitution  and 
want  of  spiritual  privileges  that  characterized  the 
country.  He  made  a  profession  of  religion  May  10, 
1802,  and  became  a  member  of  the  church  of  Fair- 
field, of  which  he  was  afterwards  pastor.  For  three 
years  after  his  marriage  he  continued  to  cultivate  his 
modest  acres,  when  a  voice  that  perhaps  for  some  time 
had  been  heard  in  the  deep  chambers  of  his  heart,  con- 
strained him  to  resolve  to  begin  at  once  preparation  for 
the  gospel  ministry. 

For  him  to  resolve,  was  to  act.  So  in  1803  he  leaves 
his  little  farm,  moves  his  family  to  Cannonsburg,  and 
commences  his  studies,  where  he  graduated  in  1808, 
After  graduation  he  moved  with  his  family  to  a  farm 
belonging  to  his  brother,  about  seven  miles  from  Wash- 
ington, where  he  commenced  the  study  of  theology 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  McMillan,  and  his  pastor, 
Rev.  George  M.   Scott,  supporting  his  family  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  279 

mean  time  by  teaching  a  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
His  eldest  son  remembers  distinctly  a  well-beaten  path 
on  a  knoll  near  the  house,  where  the  divinity  student 
was  in  the  habit  of  walking  back  and  forth  whilst  en- 
gaged in  his  studies.  A  church  was  afterwards  built  on 
the  same  spot. 

After  completing  his  studies,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  on  the 
17th  day  of  October,  1811.  The  first  year  of  his  labor 
was  spent  as  a  missionary,  itinerating  amongst  the 
vacant  churches  and  destitute  settlements  of  Washing- 
ton County.  An  incident  that  occurred  during  this 
missionary  work,  illustrates  the  character  of  the  man. 
When  returning  home  from  a  tour,  he  was  about  cross- 
ing the  Monongahela  River  in  a  ferry  boat.  There  was 
a  stranger  wishing  to  cross  at  the  same  time,  but  being 
without  money,  the  ferryman  refused  to  take  him  over. 
Mr.  Condit  gave  him  all  the  money  he  had  in  his  pos- 
session, and  trusted  to  Providence  for  the  supply  of  his 
wants  on  his  way  home.  He  had  not  proceeded  far  on 
his  way  before  he  met  a  man  who  owed  him  some  mon- 
ey, but  which  he  never  expected  to  receive.  The  man 
voluntarily  paid  him  the  debt. 

In  1812,  Mr.  Condit  moved  back  to  Sandy  Creek, 
where  he  had  first  erected  his  home  in  the  wilderness, 
and  after  preaching  for  some  time  in  the  vacant  churches, 
accepted  calls  from  the  congregations  of  Fairfield  and 
Big  Sugar  Creek.  His  ordination  took  place  at  Big 
Sugar  Creek,  on  the  8th  day  of  November,  1814.  Rev. 
Robert  Johnston  (14)  preached  on  the  occasion,  and 
Rev.  Samuel  Tait  (3)  delivered  the  charges.  Fairfield 
church  had  been  organized  near  the  place  where  Mr. 
Condit  had  originally  settled  as  a  farmer,  and  Sugar 
Creek  was  perhaps  fifteen  miles  distant. 


280  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

In  April,  1827,  he  accepted  calls  to  the  congregation 
of  Georgetown,  or  Upper  Sandy  as  it  was  then  called. 
This  call  is  still  in  existence,  and  is  a  curiosity  in  its 
way.  It  is  for  one  third  of  the  minister's  time,  and  pro- 
ceeds in  the  ordinary  orthodox  way :  "  And  that  you 
may  be  free  from  worldly  cares  and  avocations,  we 
hereby  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay  to  you  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  dollars,  in  regular  half-yearly  pay- 
ments, one  third  in  cash  and  two  thirds  in  produce,  dur- 
ing the  time  of  your  being  and  continuing  the  regular 
pastor  of  this  church." 

He  was  afterwards  installed  for  a  portion  of  his  time 
over  the  congregation  of  Amity.  This  charge  was  re- 
linquished April  22,  1829.  In  June  of  the  same  year, 
he  accepted  a  call  to  the  congregation  of  Cool  Spring, 
for  one  third  of  his  time,  and  was  installed  June  24, 
1829.  In  this  united  charge,  Fairfield,  one  of  his  orig- 
inal charges,  Georgetown,  and  Cool  Spring,  he  labored 
until  he  was  released  by  death. 

Mr.  Condit  was  a  man  of  robust  health.  During  his 
whole  ministry  of  twenty-five  years,  he  lost  but  two 
Sabbaths  by  sickness.  In  person  he  was  tall  and  erect, 
being  over  six  feet  in  height,  of  a  sanguine  tempera- 
ment, and  with  a  grave  and  solemn  countenance.  He 
was  always  extremely  diffident,  particularly  in  the  ear- 
lier years  of  his  ministry.  He  was  not  gifted  in  con- 
versation, although  of  a  social  nature  and  domestic 
habits.  Still  he  always  had  a  word  for  Christ  on  all 
proper  occasions.  He  has  left  behind  him  a  name  that 
is  like  precious  ointment,  and  his  memory  is  dearly 
cherished  by  all  who  knew  him. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  not  eloquent.  Nor  was  he 
gifted  in  the  art  of  sermonizing.  He  was,  however, 
very  solemn  and  impressive  in  his  manner,  which  gave 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  281 

great  weight  to  his  words.  His  people  loved  to  hear 
him  preach,  for  he  broke  to  them  the  Bread  of  Life, 
with  all  sincerity  and  solemnity  and  love.  He  has  left 
behind  him  a  few  manuscripts  of  sermons,  but  he  did 
not  often,  nor  perhaps  ever,  after  the  first  few  years  of 
his  ministry,  write  out  his  discourses.  Several  hundred 
skeletons  of  sermons  remain  amongst  his  papers,  giving 
an  idea  of  his  taste  in  sermonizing.  He  always  preached 
from  notes,  holding  a  small  Bible  in  his  hand,  containing 
the  heads  of  his  discourse.  He  used  little  action,  nor 
had  he  much  variety  in  tone  of  voice,  but  simply  de- 
livered the  message,  and  trusted  to  no  meretricious 
adornment  of  style  or  manner  to  enforce  the  truth. 

Mr.  Condit  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children.  Two 
of  these  died  in  infancy,  and  one  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
and  ten  grew  up  to  maturity.  About  a  year  previous 
to  his  death,  he  removed  to  Georgetown,  and  lived  in 
a  house  that  was  under  the  same  roof  with  that  of  his 
eldest  son.  His  death  was  sudden,  and  occurred  Oc- 
tober 24,  1836,  from  typhoid  fever.  This  disease  en- 
tered his  and  his  son's  families  together.  Eight  mem- 
bers of  the  two  households  lay  sick  together,  of  whom 
four  died.  Mr.  Condit  was  sick  but  eight  days.  He  and 
his  son  Samuel,  who  was  studying  for  the  ministry,  both 
died  the  same  day  and  were  buried  in  the  same  grave. 
His  wife  died  soon  after. 

His  remains  find  rest  in  the  cemetery  connected  with 
the  Fairfield  church.  His  monument  is  seen  facing 
the  edifice  in  which  he  preached  so  many  years,  bear- 
ing the  usual  inscription,  with  the  following  homely  yet 
terse  lines,  composed  by  a  Rev.  Mr.  Smith,  — 

"In  yonder  sacred  house  I  spent  my  breath; 
Now  slumbering  here  I  lie  in  death. 
This  sleeping  dust  shall  rise  and  yet  declare, 
A  dread  Amen  to  doctrines  published  there." 


282  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

Mr.  Condit  was  the  grandfather  of  Rev.  Ira  M.  Con- 
dit,  a  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian  Board  to  China. 

(25.)  AMOS    CHASE. 

1786-1849. 

Amos  Chase  was  a  native  of  New  England.  He  was 
born  in  Sutton,  near  Boston,  Mass.,  on  the  12th  day  of 
May,  1760.  When  he  was  four  years  of  age,  his  father 
moved  to  Cornish,  N.  H.,  and  settled  in  the  valley  of 
the  Connecticut  River,  at  that  time  a  dense  wilderness. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  entered  Dartmouth  College, 
with  the  view  of  preparing  himself  for  the  life  of  a 
physician.  But  there  was  a  different  course  marked 
out  for  him  by  the  hand  of  Providence.  The  training 
that  was  begun  in  the  wilderness  of  New  Hampshire, 
must  be  put  into  practice  in  the  wilderness  of  Northwest- 
ern Pennsylvania. 

He  became  a  subject  of  a  revival  that  occurred  in  the 
College  and  surrounding  country,  in  connection  with  the 
labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield.  His  thoughts  now  ran 
in  a  different  channel.  He  devoted  himself  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  listening  to  the  earnest  call  for  labor- 
ers in  the  great  vineyard,  made  a  solemn  consecration 
of  himself  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry. 

After  taking  his  first  degree  in  the  arts  in  1780,  he 
commenced  the  study  of  theology,  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  of  Boston.  His  theological 
studies  were  completed  under  the  direction  of  Levi  Hart, 
D.  D.,  of  Preston,  Connecticut.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  South  Association  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  after  some  time  spent  in  proving  his  gifts,  was 
ordained  by  the  same  association  at  Litchfield,  Connecti- 
cut, on  the  27th  day  of  June,  1787.     In  these  services, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  283 

his  preceptor,  Dr.  Hart,  preached  the  sermon.^  Here 
he  commenced  his  work  as  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Litchfield  South  Farms,  which  continued  for  twenty-six 
years.  In  this  field  he  was  content  to  labor  and  practice 
self-denial,  striving  to  live  and  educate  a  growing  family 
upon  a  meagre  salary,  until  forced  to  look  for  a  different 
place  of  labor.  The  temporal  interests  of  his  family  as 
well  as  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  people,  were  a  part 
of  his  burden,  and  he  began  to  look  to  the  West  as  an 
inviting  field  of  labor. 

The  great  Holland  Land  Company,  at  that  time,  were 
in  possession  of  vast  quantities  of  land,  in  Northwestern 
Pennsylvania,  that  they  were  anxious  to  have  brought 
into  market.  To  this  end  they  offered  inducements  to 
clergymen  to  go  out  and  settle  in  the  territory  they 
were  opening  up.  Worldly  prudence  and  a  desire  for 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  people  were  mingled  to- 
gether in  unequal  proportions,  and  so  some  of  the 
agents  of  the  company  made  overtures  to  Mr.  Chase 
looking  to  the  removal  of  his  family  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  himself  in  the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  motives  held  forth  were,  the  wide  field  of  useful- 
ness in  a  new  country  and  in  the  midst  of  a  destitute 
people,  the  founding  of  churches,  and  general  mission- 
ary work ;  together  with  the  prospect  of  bettering  his 
worldly  circumstances.  It  was  not  kept  out  of  view, 
however,  that  the  company  were  to  be  benefited  by  the 
minister's  removal,  by  inducing  others  to  accompany  or 
to  follow  him  to  the  new  country.  And  so  the  minis- 
ter went  to  the  new  country,  found  the  wide,  rough 
field  of  labor,  a  loud  call  for  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  earnest  toil  in  building  up  Zion,  but  not  the 
pecuniary  advantages  that  had  been  promised.  Still  he 
labored  and  was  content. 

1  Sprague's  ^nwafe. 


284  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

The  people  of  his  old"  charge  were  much  attached  to 
him,  and  were  unwilling  to  part  with  him.  They  pro- 
posed raising  his  salary,  feeling  that  under  his  pastorate 
they  had  been  most  abundantly  prospered.  But  the 
path  of  duty  seemed  plain,  and  at  his  own  request,  he 
was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  in  1814,  and  in 
the  month  of  February,  1815,  with  his  family,  he  set  his 
face  toward  the  West. 

The  association  that  dismissed  him  reported  that  he 
"  had  proved  himself  a  workman  that  need  not  be 
ashamed  :  that  the  parish  from  a  low  estate  of  morality 
and  religion,  had  become,  under  his  ministrations,  as  a 
city  set  on  a  hill." 

To  the  same  effect  is  the  testimony  of  an  old  parish- 
ioner, after  his  removal  westward :  "  How  much  good, 
under  God,  Mr.  Chase  did,  the  world  will  never  know. 
Think  of  South  Farms,  a  place,  when  he  went  there,  of 
comparative  ignorance  and  vice,  addicted  to  all  kinds  of 
vulgarity,  debasing  amusements,  and  dissipation ;  but 
raised  during  his  residence  there  to  respectability  and 
intelligence,  and  what  is  still  better,  become  the  devoted 
worshippers  of  the  living  God." 

The  land  of  promise  to  which  Mr.  Chase  had  re- 
solved to  emigrate  was  the  northeastern  part  of  Craw- 
ford County,  Pa.,  in  the  neighborhood  of  what  is  now 
the  city  of  Titusville.  It  was  not  a  promising  region 
then.  On  his  first  visit,  the  preceding  summer,  he 
found  partially  improved  farms,  with  forsaken  habita- 
tions, fields  on  which  crops  had  been  raised,  but  of 
which  nothing  now  remained  but  decaying  fences,  and 
girdled  trees  standing  in  their  nakedness,  as  monuments 
of  wasted  strength  and  disappointed  hopes.  Many  who 
yet  remained  were  preparing  to  leave  the  country  as  an 
accursed  place.      But  Mr.  Chase  encouraged  them  to  re- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  285 

main,  by  assuring  them  that  many  families  were  on  their 
way  to  the  country ;  and  as  the  want  of  schools  was 
very  much  complained  of,  assured  them  that  his  daugh- 
ters had  signified  their  willingness  to  teach,  if  in  that  way 
they  could  be  useful.  With  these  assurances  many  were 
deterred  from  leaving,  and  a  new  impulse  was  given  to 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  country. 

Here  he  pitched  his  tent  and  girded  himself  for  labor. 
The  whole  country  round  was  a  spiritual  desert.  To 
one  of  his  brethren  in  the  East  who  had  written  him  for 
a  particular  account  of  his  circumstances  and  labors,  he 
writes :  "  Take  a  map  and  stand  with  me  a  moment  at 
Centerville,  at  the  upper  forks  (navigable  by  law)  of  Oil 
Creek,  and  look  an  hundred  miles  to  the  east,  north- 
east, and  southeast,  and  there  is  no  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Look  again  southwest,  west,  and  northwest, 
and  there  are  three  ministers  of  our  order,  each  minis- 
tering to  three  or  four  congregations.  Who  would  not 
be  ready  to  say,  '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ? ' 
Being  thus  set  down  in  the  valley  of  dry  bones,  in  the 
open  valley  and  very  dry,  who  would  not  tremble  ?  My 
poor,  feeble  labors  were,  during  the  past  year,  distrib- 
uted to  encourage  churches,  congregations,  and  schools 
over  an  extent  of  country  not  less  than  one  hundred  miles 
between  Buffiilo  and  the  Alleghany  River.  They  were 
very  general  and  without  much  effect  save  that  of  fur- 
nishing myself  with  an  extensive  knowledge  of  men  and 
things  in  this  region.  My  labors  since  have  been  more 
particular  and  their  effects  more  evident." 

On  the  27th  day  of  June,  1815,  Mr.  Chase  was  re- 
ceived into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  as  "a  member.  For 
eleven  years  he  took  no  regular  pastoral  charge,  but 
acted  as  the  missionary  of  Presbytery,  particularly  in 
portions  of  Crawford,  Warren,  and  Venango  counties. 


286  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

In  the  year  1815,  he  organized  the  churches  of  Oil 
Creek  and  Centerville.  Of  the  first  of  these  churches, 
he  says :  "  A  church  was  gathered,  elders  and  trustees 
selected,  and  the  sealing  ordinances  administered.  The 
congregation,  about  two  hundred,  have  continued  to  ap- 
pear solemn  as  well  as  punctual.  The  place  I  speak  of 
is  ten  miles  below  Centerville  (the  present  site  of  Titus- 
ville),  at  which  place  I  have  also  gathered  a  congrega- 
tion, where  there  never  was  a  meeting  of  any  Protest- 
ant denomination  before." 

The  labors  of  Mr.  Chase,  during  these  long  years  of 
watching  and  toil,  were  most  exhausting.  With  his  nu- 
merous family  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  his  sons  yet  in 
their  minority  and  needing  his  care  and  supervision, 
and  the  people  scattered  and  poor,  so  that  they  could 
do  little  for  his  support,  no  wonder  that  his  brave  heart 
was  well-nigh  crushed.  He  had  hoped  for  encourage- 
ment and  support  from  his  brethren  in  Connecticut,  but 
a  change  in  his  church  relations  had  abated  their  zeal. 
He  writes  :  "  The  appeal  in  my  behalf  to  the  mission- 
ary society  of  Connecticut,  was  not  encouraged.  .  .  . 
If  not  much  deceived,  I  have  taken  possession  of  this 
extensive  field  of  missionary  labor,  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  without  the  support  of  a  missionary,  but  still 
remembering  that  the  silver  and  the  gold  are  the 
Lord's."  Subsequently  he  received  a  commission  from 
the  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions  for  one  year. 

In  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Chase  represented  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie  in  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  1825,  was 
its  moderator.  On  the  24th  day  of  May,  1826,  he  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Oil  Creek  for  one 
half  his  time,  and  on  the  27th  of  April,  1827,  he  was 
installed  at  Centerville  for  one  fourth  of  his  time,  leav- 
ing a  remaining  fourth  for  missionary  labor.  These  re- 
lations were  dissolved  in  1830. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  287 

He  \vas  HOW  in  his  seventieth  year,  and  the  infirmi- 
ties of  age  were  coming  upon  him.  Still  his  frame  was 
erect  and  massive,  and  he  felt  that  much  missionary  la- 
bor might  yet  be  accomplished.  The  remainder  of  his 
days  was  spent  in  those  itinerating  labors  to  which  he 
had  devoted  the  strength  of  his  manhood. 

Mr.  Chase  was  a  social,  friendly  man,  and  his  Chris- 
tian character  always  above  reproach.  As  a  preacher, 
he  abounded  in  aphorisms.  His  discourses  were  rich 
and  full  of  thought,  but  often  like  Proverbs,  abounding 
in  short  sententious  utterances  that  sparkled  with  truth, 
drawn  from  the  mine  of  sacred  writ.  Perhaps  this 
style  of  speaking  became  more  prominent  during  his 
labors  as  a  missionary.  The  people  were  not  accus- 
tomed to  labored  disquisitions,  or  elaborately  written 
discourses,  and  preferred  to  have  a  preacher  come  to 
the  point  at  once. 

In  figure  and  bearing  Mr.  Chase  was  noble  and 
commanding.  Tall  and  stout  without  being  corpulent, 
in  his  missionary  tours  he  sat  his  horse  like  a  cavalier 
of  old.  In  his  old  age  he  presented  a  peculiarly  patri- 
archal appearance.  He  was  a  useful  man  in  his  day, 
and  the  now  celebrated  oil  regions  are  yet  reaping  the 
benefit  of  his  self-denying  labors. 

Mr.  Chase  was  twice  married.  He  was  first  married 
to  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Rev.  Levi  Hart,  D.  D.,  his  old 
preceptor  at  Preston,  Connecticut.  She  was  also  a 
granddaughter  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Bellamy  of  Bethle- 
hem, Connecticut.  This  marriage  took  place  on  the 
30th  day  of  November,  1788.  Mrs.  Chase  died  on  the 
25th  day  of  February,  1791,  in  the  26th  year  of  her  age. 
He  was  married  the  second  time  to  Joanna,  daughter  of 
Peter  Lanman,  Esq.,  Norwich,  Connecticut,  June  10, 
1792.     Mrs.  Chase  was  his   companion  for  more  than 


288  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

half  a  century,  comforting  him  in  his  sorrows  and  en- 
couraging him  in  his  labors,  until  August,  1848,  when 
she  was  called  to  rest.  The  children  consisted  of  six 
sons  and  six  daughters,  who  were  a  comfort  to  them  in 
their  old  age  and  are  useful  in  their  day  and  generation. 
Mr.  Chase  survived  his  wife  but  little  over  a  year,  when 
he  too  fell  asleep.  His  death  occurred  at  Centerville, 
Crawford  County,  Pa.,  December  23,  1849,  in  the  nine- 
tieth year  of  his  age,  and  sixty-third  year  of  his  ministry. 
At  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  in  1838, 
Mr.  Chase  chose  his  membership,  in  connection  with 
the  New  School  portion  of  the  church. 

(26.)  JOHN    REDICK. 

1813-1850. 

John  Redick,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Sorrell) 
Redick,  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  about 
the  year  1787.  His  father's  family  resided  near  Han- 
nastown  at  the  time  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  with 
his  neighbors  suffered  grievously  from  their  depreda- 
tions. On  one  occasion,  when  the  neighborhood  had 
been  alarmed,  and  the  people  taken  refuge  in  the  fort, 
his  father  was  wounded  in  the  arm  and  permanently 
disabled,  whilst  crossing  a  fence  near  the  fort.  This 
was  at  the  time  Hannastown  was  burned.  After  this 
his  father  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  Butler  County, 
Pa.,  near  the  line  of  Venango  County,  and  about  one 
and  a  half  miles  from  the  Alleghany  River.  Here 
John  Redick  was  raised,  working  on  the  farm  and  as- 
sisting in  the  support  of  the  family.  After  he  had  at- 
tained to  years  of  manhood,  a  circumstance  of  a  prov- 
idential kind  took  place,  that  was  the  means  of  bringing 
him  into  the  ministry.      He  with   others  were  about 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  289 

crossing  the  Alleghany  River  on  a  hunting  excursion. 
His  companions  had  seated  themselves  in  the  canoe, 
when  young  Redick  placed  his  gun  in  the  canoe,  took 
hold  of  the  bow,  and  was  in  the  act  of  pushing  it  from 
the  shore,  when  the  gun  went  off  and  wounded  him 
severely  in  the  limb.  His  father,  supposing  he  would 
never  be  able  to  labor,  proposed  educating  him  as  well 
as  his  means  would  permit. 

The  probabilities  are,  that  before  this  he  had  made  a 
profession  of  religion.  He  commenced  his  studies  with 
Robert  Johnston  (14),  who  was  then  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Scrubgrass.  This  was  in  company  with  sev- 
eral other  students  —  Hon.  Walter  Lowrie,  Rev.  James 
Wright,  Rev.  Alexander  Crawford,  and  others.  He 
afterwards  went  to  the  academy  at  Greersburg,  now 
Darlington,  Beaver  County,  Pa.  His  theological  studies 
were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Johnston,  who 
was  probably  his  pastor.  No  doubt  a  part  of  the  train- 
ing consisted  in  copying  the  system  of  theology,  or  lec- 
tures of  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan,  that  was  the  chief  staple 
with  the  early  fathers  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

Having  preached  a  trial  discourse  on  John  iv.  18,  as 
well  as  passed  other  usual  trials,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  at  its 
sessions  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  on  the  20th  day  of  October, 
1813.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery  on 
the  28th  day  of  September,  1815,  and  installed  as  pas- 
tor of  the  united  congregations  of  Slate  Lick  and  Union, 
in  Armstrong  County,  Pa.  This  meeting  was  at  the 
former  place.  On  the  occasion,  his  old  preceptor,  Rob- 
ert Johnston  (14),  preached  the  sermon,  and  John  Mc- 
Pherrin  (16)  delivered  the  charges. 

He  continued  the  beloved  faithful  pastor  of  these 
churches  until  the  autumn  of  1848,  when  he  resigned 
19 


290  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

his  charge  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age  and  in- 
ability to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office. 
He  did  not  continue  long  upon  earth  after  the  resigna- 
tion of  his  charge.  Growing  infirmities  pressed  upon 
him,  until  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1850,  he  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age,  and 
thirty-seventh  of  his  ministry.  His  mortal  remains 
await  the  resurrection  in  the  little  graveyard  attached 
to  the  Slate  Lick  Church. 

About  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Redick  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Betsey  Coulter,  a  sister  of  Rev.  John 
Coulter,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany.  They  had 
five  sons  and  four  daughters.  Mrs.  Redick  was  a  model 
wife  for  a  minister,  and  was  throughout  their  journey 
together  a  most  useful  helpmeet  to  her  husband.  Mr. 
Redick  was  a  plain,  practical  preacher,  and  a  pious, 
godly  man.  His  great  aim  was  to  do  the  Master's 
work  and  win  souls  to  Christ.  Through  his  instru- 
mentality, the  churches  of  his  charge  were  greatly 
strengthened  and  built  up.  He  spent  his  entire  pastoral 
life  in  their  service,  and  was  entirely  devoted  to  their 
welfare.  His  memory  will  long  be  fragrant  in  their 
midst. 

(27.)  TIMOTHY  ALDEN. 

1798-1839. 

Timothy  Alden  was  of  Puritan  ancestry.  He  was 
a  descendant  of  John  Alden,  of  Duxbury,  who  came  in 
the  "  Mayflower,"  to  seek  his  fortune  on  the  bleak 
shores  of  New  England.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Tim- 
othy and  Sarah  Weld  Alden.  Rev.  Timothy  Alden, 
his  father,  was  born  November  24,  1736,  old  style, 
graduated  at  Harvard,   1762,  ordained  pastor  of  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  291 

Congregational  Church  of  Yarmouth,  Mass.,  December 
15,  1769,  and  died  November  13,  1828.  His  mother 
was  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Habijah  Weld,  of  Attle- 
boro',  Mass.,  lineally  descended,  according  to  Guil- 
lim,  from  Edrich  Igloaticus,  Anglicized  Wild  or  Weld, 
and  in  the  maternal  line,  from  John  Fox,  the  Martjrol- 
ogist.  Rev.  Habijah  Weld  was  graduated  at  Harvard, 
1723.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Weld,  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard,  1671.  Timothy  Alden,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  also  great-grandson  of  Rev.  John  Fox, 
who  graduated  at  Harvard,  1 698,  who  was  the  son  of 
Rev.  Jabez  Fox,  who  graduated  at  Harvard,  1665. 

Timothy  Alden,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at 
Yarmouth,  Mass.,  on  the  28th  day  of  August,  1771.  At 
the  age  of  eight  years,  he  left  the  paternal  home,  and 
went  to  reside  with  an  uncle,  where  he  continued  until 
his  fifteenth  year.  The  design  was  to  train  him  to  the 
business  of  farming,  his  uncle  being  engaged  in  that 
pursuit.  His  uncle  had  made  him  the  promise  that  his 
valuable  farm  should  be  his  inheritance  if  he  would  re- 
main with  him.  But  young  Alden  thought  of  a  differ- 
ent avocation  from  that  of  cultivating  the  soil.  Even 
in  boyhood  he  was  resolutely  bent  on  securing  a  liberal 
education.  When  sent  into  the  fields  to  work,  he  would 
carry  his  Latin  grammar  with  him,  and  in  the  midst  of 
declensions  and  conjugations,  forget  all  about  his  corn 
and  his  oxen.  Under  these  circumstances,  his  uncle 
wrote  to  the  father  of  the  lad,  telling  him  that  the  proj- 
ect of  making  a  farmer  of  him  was  vain,  and  advising 
to  send  him  to  college. 

His  preparatory  course  commenced  when  he  was 
about  fifteen,  first  with  his  father,  and  afterwards  at 
Philips'  Academy,  at  Andover.  It  is  supposed  that 
hi-   mind  took   a  relio:ious    direction  whilst  he  was  at 


292  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Andover.  He  entered  Harvard  in  1790,  and  graduated 
in  1794.  Whilst  at  college,  he  took  and  maintained  a 
very  high  position  as  a  linguist.  He  was  particularly 
fond  of  the  Oriental  languages,  and  carried  this  taste 
beyond  the  ordinary  curriculum  of  the  institution.  At 
the  Commencement,  his  graduating  oration  was  written 
in  the  Syriac  language.  It  is  said,  that  when  he  sub- 
mitted this  oration  to  the  President  for  his  approval, 
the  President,  being  altogether  ignorant  of  the  lan- 
guage, said,  "  Come  Alden,  sit  down  and  construe  it 
for  me."  When  reduced  to  the  form  of  good  Anglo- 
Saxon,  it  was  heartily  approved. 

The  probabilities  are  that  he  engaged  somewhat  in 
the  study  of  theology  during  his  collegiate  course,  and 
that  he  remained  at  Cambridge  for  a  short  time  after 
graduating.  We  next  find  him  teaching  at  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  and  whilst  there,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel.  In  the  year  1799,  he  preached  with  the  view 
of  settlement  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  and  on  the  20th  of 
November  of  that  year,  was  ordained  as  co-pastor  with 
Dr.  Haven,  over  the  church  of  that  place. 

The  church  was  not  strong,  and  the  salary  being  in- 
adequate, he  commenced  teaching  a  young  ladies'  school 
in  the  spring  of  1800,  in  connection  with  his  pastoral 
labors.  Wearied  with  this  double  burden,  and  discour- 
aged with  the  prospects  before  him  in  Portsmouth,  he 
resigned  his  charge,  and  was  dismissed  July  31,  1805. 
He  still  continued  his  labors  as  a  teacher,  however, 
until  1808,  when  he  left  Portsmouth,  and  opened  a 
ladies'  school  in  Boston.  Here  he  was  highly  appre- 
ciated and  his  efforts  liberally  sustained.  In  this  city, 
his  learned  and  antiquarian  tastes  had  a  fine  field  for 
their  exercise  and  cultivation,  and  he  rendered  some 
very  important  services  to  the  cause  of  science. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  293 

In  1809,  Mr.  Alden  resigned  his  position  in  Boston, 
and  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  year,  took  charge 
of  the  young  ladies'  department  in  the  academy  at 
Newark,  N.  J.  After  continuing  there  some  years,  he 
opened  a  school  for  young  ladies  in  the  city  of  New 
York. 

About  the  year  1815,  the  project  was  agitated  of 
founding  a  college  at  Meadville,  Pa.  In  this  enter- 
prise, Mr.  Alden  enlisted  with  great  zeal  and  earnest- 
ness. He  gave  up  his  school  in  New  York,  and  became 
the  agent  for  the  new  institution.  During  the  many 
journeys  taken  in  behalf  of  Alleghany  College,  he  was 
offered  the  presidency  of  the  college  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  with  liberal  pecuniary  inducements.  These  were 
declined,  as  he  was  for  the  present  at  least  pledged  to 
Alleghany.  Having  accepted  the  offices  both  of  Presi- 
dent and  Professor  in  the  Faculty,  he  was  inaugurated 
on  the  28th  day  of  July,  1817. 

Mr.  Alden  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1816.  During  the  period 
of  his  membership  in  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  he  had 
no  regular  charge.  He  preached  to  the  Presbyterian 
congregation  of  Meadville  at  times  when  they  were 
vacant,  and  often  supplied  vacant  congregations  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  delighted  in  missionary  work,  and 
for  many  successive  years  labored  for  a  time  among  the 
Seneca  and  Munsee  Indians,  who  had  reservations  in 
northwestern  Pennsylvania  and  southwestern  New 
York.  These  labors  were  at  first  performed  on  his 
own  account,  but  afterwards  he  received  an  appointment 
from  an  eastern  society,  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
sending  the  gospel  to  the  Indians.  He  enjoyed  these 
labors  very  much.  During  his  tours  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  celebrated   chief  Cornplanter,   and 


294  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

enjoyed  his  protection  and  friendship.  This  was  in 
Warren  County,  Pa. 

Mr.  Alden's  last  missionary  tour  among  the  Indians, 
was  in  1820.  lie  had  a  great  admiration  for  their 
character,  and  enjoyed  his  labors  among  them,  not  only 
from  the  opportunities  of  doing  good,  but  from  studying 
their  character  in  their  forest  homes. 

Mr.  Alden  was  a  valuable  friend  to  Alleghany  Col- 
lege. It  was  mainly  through  his  instrumentality  that 
its  valuable  library  and  chemical  apparatus  was  col- 
lected. Through  his  acquaintance  in  New  England, 
one  or  two  private  libraries  of  great  value  were  obtained 
and  added  to  the  catalogue.  Many  of  these  volumes 
are  rare  and  valuable.  His  connection  with  the  college 
terminated  in  November,  1831.  He  retired  from  the 
position  he  had  so  long  occupied,  with  the  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  others 
interested  in  the  institution,  as  well  as  the  kindest  feel- 
ings of  the  comnmnity. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1832,  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  connect  with  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Cincinnati.  He  removed  his  family  to  Cin- 
cinnati in  June,  1832,  and  opened  a  boarding-school. 
The  health  of  some  of  the  members  of  his  family  suf- 
fering at  this  place,  he  removed  to  East  Liberty,  near 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  the  autumn  of  1833,  and  the  next 
spring  took  charge  of  the  academy  at  that  place.  Here, 
as  at  other  places,  he  embraced  every  opportunity  of 
preaching  the  gospel  in  vacant  churches.  In  the  year 
1838,  he  became  stated  supply  to  the  congregation  of 
Pine  Creek,  about  five  miles  from  Pittsburgh.  Being 
of  a  vigorous  constitution,  he  was  able  to  perform  as 
much  labor  as  many  who  were  his  juniors  in  years,  and 
enjoyed  good  health  up  to  within  a  few  months  of  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  295 

death,  when  he  was  attacked  by  rheumatism.  His  last 
sermon  was  preached  from  the  words,  "  The  end  of  all 
things  is  at  hand." 

During  his  last  illness,  ^'hen  the  prospect  of  recovery 
seemed  to  fade  away,  "  a  dark  cloud  for  some  time 
rested  over  his  mind,  and  he  looked  forward  with  awful 
apprehensions  to  the  change  that  awaited  him.  That 
cloud,  however,  soon  passed  off,  and  those  apprehen- 
sions yielded  to  an  humble  confidence  in  his  Redeemer, 
which  quickly  became  so  strong  as  to  cast  out  all  fear, 
and  even  to  fill  his  mind  with  the  most  intense  rapture. 
In  this  state  he  continued  until  the  moment  of  his 
departure."  ^ 

He  died  at  the  house  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Mc- 
Fadden,  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  on  the  5th  day  of  July,  1839, 
in  the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  forty-first 
of  his  ministry.  His  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  connected  with  the  Pine  Creek  Church,  where 
his  last  pastoral  labors  were  performed. 

As  a  teacher  and  professor,  Mr.  Alden  stood  deserv- 
edly high,  not  only  in  the  extent  of  his  knowledge,  but 
in  the  faculty  of  communicating  it  to  others.  As  a 
preacher,  his  appearance  in  the  pulpit  was  imposing, 
his  manner  of  delivery  on  the  whole  pleasing,  yet 
rather  monotonous,  and  at  times  rather  rapid.  "  As  a 
man,  he  was  affable  and  social,  his  conversation  agree- 
able and  instructive.  As  a  minister,  his  pubHc  min- 
istrations were  respectable,  but  lacking  in  earnestness 
and  energy.  His  prayers  were  beautiful  in  construc- 
tion, but  without  variety.  His  sermons  were  written 
with  care,  but  read  with  little  action,  and  monotonous 
in  tone.     He  was  a  good  man."  ^ 

Besides  many  occasional  sermons  and  addresses,  Mr. 
1  Sprague's  Annals.  2  John  Reynolds,  Esq. 


296  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Alden  published,  in  1814,  '•  A  Collection  of  American 
Epitaphs,"  in  five  volumes,  18mo.,  and  in  1827,  a  "  His- 
tory of  Sundry  Missions,"  and  in  1821,  a  "  Hebrew 
Catechism."  * 

Mr.  Alden  was  twice  married :  first  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Shepard  Wormsted,  of  Marblehead,  Mass.  She 
died  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  April,  1820.  She  was  the 
mother  of  five  children,  three  daughters  and  two  sons. 
The  sons  were  educated  at  Meadville.  One  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  lost  at  sea,  the  other,  T.  J.  Fox 
Alden,  was  a  lawyer  of  eminence  at  the  Pittsburgh 
bar.  In  1822,  he  was  married  the  second  time,  to 
Sophia  Louisa  L.  Mulcock,  of  Philadelphia.  By  her  he 
had  one  daughter. 

(28.)  JOHN  MUNSON. 

1816-1866. 

John  Munson,  son  of  Daniel  and  Susanna  (Drake) 
Munson,  was  born  in  Morris  County,  New  Jersey,  on 
the  22d  day  of  February,  1784  His  father  died  in 
1790,  when  John  was  but  six  years  of  age.  His  father's 
death  took  place  in  Herkimer  County,  New  York,  where 
his  mother  was  left  a  widow  among  strangers.  After 
some  time  his  mother  married  again,  and  with  her  hus- 
band and  family  removed  to  Lycoming  County,  Pa. 
This  was  when  John  was  eleven  years  of  age.  His 
mother  was  a  pious  woman,  and  hearing  what  the  Lord 
was  doing  in  the  outpouring  of  his  Spirit  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  felt  a  great  desire  to  place  her  family 
within  the  sphere  of  religious  influence.  Accordingly 
the  family  removed  to  Beaver  County  in  1806.  His 
mother  lived  to  see  her  husband  and  seven  children  re- 
ceived into  the  communion  of  the  church,  and  one  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  297 

her  sons  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  She  died  in  1838,  in 
the  seventy-ninth  year  of  her  age.  John  Mimson  did 
not  make  a  profession  of  religion  until  perhaps  his 
twenty-fifth  year. 

He  pursued  his  literary  studies  at  the  Greersburg 
Academy,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Thomas  Edgar 
Hughes  (1),  with  whom  he  also  studied  theology.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Hartford  (now  Beaver),  on  the  16th  day  of  October, 
1816.  From  this  Presbytery,  he  was  received  by  that  of 
Erie  in  1817.  Having  accepted  calls  from  the  congre- 
gations of  Plaingrove  and  Center,  he  was  ordained  at 
Plaingrove,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  on  the  25th  of 
February,  1818,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  these  churches. 
In  these  services  Amos  Chase  (25)  preached  the  sermon, 
and  John  McPherrin  (16)  delivered  the  charges.  He 
was  set  off  with  others  to  form  the  new  Presbytery  of 
Alleghany  in  1820.  His  pastoral  relation  to  Plaingrove 
was  dissolved  February  6,  1838,  when  he  gave  all  his 
time  to  Center.  The  latter  charge  he  resigned  June 
28,  1859,  after  a  pastorate  of  forty-one  years. 

Soon  after  this,  growing  infirmities  prevented  him 
from  engaging  in  much  public  labor.  His  last  sufferings 
were  protracted  and  severe.  Says  a  co-presbyter :  ^ 
"  He  was  for  months  paralyzed  so  as  to  be  almost  entirely 
helpless.  His  mind,  however,  kept  bright  and  vigorous. 
His  conversation  was  very  much  about  Christ  and  heav- 
enly things.  He  spoke  to  those  who  called  to  see  him 
about  their  eternal  interests ;  sent  messages  to  his  old 
parishioners  and  acquaintances,  telling  them  of  his 
peace,  and  giving  them  his  love  and  blessing.  To  min- 
isters he  would  say,  '  Preach  Christ'  '  Tell  the  breth- 
ren to  preach  Christ  crucified  more  and  more  ! '  For 
1  Rev.  R.  B.  Walker,  D.  D. 


298  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

months  he  had  not  a  doubt  as  to  his  acceptance  with 
God,  and  his  mind  was  full  of  sweet,  heavenly  peace. 
On  one  occasion  he  spoke  to  a  ministerial  brother  of  his 
circumstances  rather  despondingly,  but  in  a  moment 
added,  '  But  I  am  a  rich  man.  0,  what  a  rich  man  I  am  ! 
I  am  a  joint-heir  with  Christ  to  an  inheritance  uncor- 
rupted  and  undefiled.'  He  died  in  the  full  possession 
of  all  his  mental  faculties,  full  of  peace  and  in  the 
joyful  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality." 

His  death  took  place  at  his  residence,  London,  Mer- 
cer County,  Pa.,  on  the  18th  day  of  December,  1866, 
in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his  age  and  fifty-first  of 
his  ministry.  Mr.  Munson  was  thrice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Jane,  daughter  of  George  Allen,  who 
died  in  less  than  a  year  after  their  marriage.  Her 
death  took  place  in  1809.  His  second  wife  was  Eliza- 
beth Clark,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1815,  and  who 
died  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  His  third  wife 
was  Mrs.  Abby  S.,  widow  of  Thomas  Branden,  and 
daughter  of  Adam  Black.  They  were  married  in  1837, 
Mrs.  Munson  died  in  1862.  Mr.  Munson  had  but  one 
child,  which  died  in  infancy. 

In  personal  appearance  he  was,  in  his  prime,  robust 
and  rough-hewn,  with  strongly  marked  features  and 
little  claim  to  personal  beauty.  He  was  able  to  endure 
great  labor,  and  was  never  backward  in  undertaking 
any  amount  of  self-denial  and  privation  in  the  Master's 
work,  that  seemed  to  be  called  for.  In  his  earlier  min- 
istry he  travelled  much  through  the  destitute  settle- 
ments, preaching  day  after  day,  forcing  his  way  through 
snow-storms  and  swollen  streams,  rarely  failing  to  meet 
his  appointments  and  always  ready  to  expose  himself, 
rather  than  disappoint  his  hearers. 

Few.  Christians  have  had  a  richer  experience  than  he. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  299 

Says  the  same  co-presbyter  already  quoted :  "  When  first 
awakened  his  convictions  were  deep  and  pungent.  He 
felt  himself  to  be  the  chief  of  sinners.  We  have  often 
heard  him  say  that  he  did  not  see  how  it  was  possible 
for  God  to  save  him,  and  that  after  him  no  anxious 
sinner  need  despair  of  finding  mercy.  But  when  the 
light  came,  his  peace  was  as  a  river.  The  principles  of 
the  gospel  were  deeply  fixed  in  his  heart.  He  lived 
out  and  adorned  the  doctrines  which  he  preached. 
During  his  long  ministerial  life,  there  was  not  a  single 
stain  upon  his  character." 

As  a  theologian,  he  was  accurate  and  discriminating. 
His  reading  was  not  extensive,  yet  valuable,  for  he  re- 
tained and  appropriated  what  he  read.  In  the  religious 
controversies  of  his  day  he  was  well  versed,  and  able  at 
all  times  to  defend  his  views  of  right. 

As  a  preacher  his  great  aim  was  to  unfold  the  truths 
of  God's  Word,  so  as  to  convince  his  hearers  and  lead 
them  to  God  and  his  service.  His  great  themes  were, 
God's  great  love  and  mercy  —  of  Christ  and  his  cross. 
He  was  a  good  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  labored 
faithfully  for  his  cause,  and  so  his  rest  must  be  sweet 
and  his  reward  glorious. 

(29.)  PHINEAS    CAMP. 

1816-1868. 

Phineas  Camp,  the  son  of  Phineas  and  Martha 
(Hall)  Camp,  was  born  in  Durham  County,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  18th  day  of  February,  1788.  At  the  age  of  eight 
years,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Oneida 
County,  in  the  same  State.  His  classical  studies  com- 
menced at  an  academy  at  Whitestown,  N.  Y.  After- 
wards he  entered  Union  College,  where  he  graduated  in 


300  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

1811,  For  two  years  after  this,  he  taught  a  classical 
school  in  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  His  theological  studies 
were  pursued  at  Princeton.  Having  completed  a  full 
course  at  that  institution,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  North  River  in  181 C.  The 
first  two  years  of  his  ministry  were  spent  in  itinerant 
labors.  He  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  North  River,  on  the  15th  day  of  July,  1817. 
He  came  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  in 
1817,  and  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Hudson, 
as  a  member,  on  the  29th  day  of  June,  1819. 

In  connection  with  Johnston  Eaton,  he  reorganized  the 
churches  of  Westfield  and  Ripley,  N.  Y.  His  first  pas- 
toral settlement  was  at  Westfield,  where  he  was  installed 
on  the  8th  day  of  September,  1819.  Cyrus  Riggs  (18), 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Samuel  Tait  delivered  the 
charges.  This  pastorate  continued  for  two  and  a  half 
years,  when,  on  account  of  ill-health  in  his  family,  the 
relation  was  dissolved.  After  two  years  of  labor  as  an 
evangelist,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Low- 
ville,  N.  Y.,  having  been  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie  to  that  of  St.  Lawrence,  February  9,  1825. 
Here  he  continued  for  four  years,  when  the  pastoral 
relation  was  dissolved.  From  this  time  Mr.  Camp 
devoted  himself  to  missionary  labors  in  various  portions 
of  the  church,  being  particularly  active  in  revivals  of 
religion.  These  labors  extended  over  northwestern 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  portions  of  Ohio.  Being 
of  a  warm,  fervid  frame  of  mind,  he  was  particularly 
adapted  to  missionary  work,  and  to  efforts  in  times  of 
refreshinoj.  He  deliorhted  in  these  labors.  It  seemed 
to  be  his  meat  and  his  drink  to  direct  inquiring  souls 
to  Christ.  During  his  labors,  the  "  bodily  exercise," 
spoken  of  elsewhere,  prevailed,  and  was  treated  by  him 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  301 

as  of  great  importance  as  a  manifestation  of  the  Spirit 
of  God.  Many  of  the  churches  along  the  shore  of  Lake 
Erie,  at  Westfield,  North  Ecst,  Fairview,  and  Spring- 
field, enjoyed  his  revival  labors,  and  some  of  the  aged 
fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel  yet  speak  of  his  unction 
and  zeal  in  the  Lord's  cause.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  connection  with  "  the  other  branch." 

Mr.  Camp  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Mary  A.  Leeworthy.  His  second  was  Miss  Anna 
Spalding.  He  had  three  children,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  all  of  whom  profess  to  be  the  followers  of  the 
God  of  their  father. 

About  four  years  ago  he  removed  to  Dixon,  Illinois, 
to  spend  his  declining  years  with  his  children.  Yet  al- 
though laid  aside  in  a  great  degree  from  the  active 
labors  of  preaching  the  gospel,  he  continued  to  seek 
opportunities  of  doing  good,  in  distributing  tracts,  and 
personal  religious  intercourse.  These  labors  continued 
until  within  two  days  of  his  death. 

A  short  time  before  his  departure,  he  wrote  in  his 
diary :  "  I  desire  to  possess  dying  grace  for  the  present 
hour.  I  am  dying :  declining  with  age  daily,  that  is 
dying.  Shall  I  be  overwhelmed  with  surprise  and  awe 
on  entering  the  celestial  world  ?  How  can  a  stranger 
from  earth  endure  it  ?  Even  the  holy  evangelist  John, 
who  had  so  often  conversed  with  his  mighty  Saviour,  had 
well-nigh  fainted  and  died  at  the  sight  of  the  angel  of 
the  Apocalypse.  I  apprehend  believers  on  entering  that 
state  will  be  gently  dealt  with  ;  will  be  gradually  made 
familiar  with  the  grand  and  fearful  things  that  shall 
in  turn  be  unfolded  and  explained.  But  be  this  as  it 
may,  let  me  have  '  perfect  holiness '  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  and  be  ready  when  called  to  go." 

His  last  illness  was  short,  and  without  suffering.     It 


S02  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

was  rather  the  wearing  out  of  life's  machinery  than 
positive  disease.  To  his  children  and  friends  who  gath- 
ered around  his  couch,  he  commended  Christ  as  the  only 
hope.  TVlien  asked  if  he  felt  prepared  for  the  journey, 
he  replied,  "  Yes,  yes,  I  settled  that  question  long  be- 
fore this.  This  trying  hour  would  be  insupportable 
were  it  not  for  my  hope  in  Christ."  After  taking  leave 
of  his  children  one  by  one,  with  the  expression  on  his 
lips,  "  Farewell,  world,  farewell,"  he  sweetly  fell  asleep. 
He  died  on  the  30th  day  of  January,  18G8,  having 
nearly  completed  his  eightieth  year,  and  in  the  fifty- 
second  year  of  his  ministry.  He  was  an  old  man,  full 
of  years  and  labors,  and  has  gone  to  reap  the  reward  of 
those  who  "  turn  many  to  righteousness." 

(31.)  BRADFORD  MARCY. 

1809-1845. 

Mr.  Marcy  was  a  native  of  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.  He  was  the  son  of  Smith  and  Patience  (Law- 
ton)  Marcy,  and  was  born  at  Otis,  Mass.,  on  the  9th 
day  of  March,  1774.  Of  his  early  life  little  can  now 
be  learned,  as  he  was  a  quiet  man,  leaving  little  behind 
that  would  throw  light  upon  his  history.  His  classical 
studies  were  pursued  at  the  college  of  Rhode  Island, 
where  he  graduated  in  1798.  From  a  paper  left  be- 
hind originating  from  the  college  authorities,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  his  standing  as  a  scholar  was  very  good.  The 
probabilities  are  that  he  studied  theology  privately,  and 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  some  of  the  New  England 
associations.  From  a  note  attached  to  his  ordination 
sermon,  it  appears  that  he  was  ordained  by  the  Eastern 
Connecticut  Association.  His  name  is  found  in  the 
records  of  the  General  Association,  as  a   missionary 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  803 

laboring  in  Delaware  in  1805.^  After  this  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  and  was  pas- 
tor of  the  churches  of  Smithtown  and  Islip,  from  1811 
to  1814. 

Mr.  Marcy  removed  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  sometime  about  the  year  1820.  He  was 
received  from  the  Presbytery  of  Long  Island,  on  the 
13th  of  April,  1824.  He  took  no  active  charge  in  the 
Presbytery,  although  he  preached  frequently  in  the  va- 
cant congregations  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  re- 
sided. He  settled  down  upon  a  farm  in  Crawford  County, 
Pa.,  and  was  very  successful  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

As  a  preacher  he  had  more  learning  than  faculty  in 
bringing  forth  the  treasures  of  his  mind  in  sermonizing. 
He  seemed  anxious  to  do  good,  yet  his  peculiarities 
were  often  in  the  way  of  his  accomplishing  it.  His  in- 
firmities prevented  his  preaching  during  the  last  three 
years  of  his  life.  He  died  near  Venango,  Crawford 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  6th  day  of  April,  1845,  in  the 
seventy-second  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Evans, 
of  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  1824. 
They  had  no  children. 

(33).  GILES  DOOLITTLE. 

1823-1842. 

Giles  Doolittle  was  the  son  of  Elisaph  and  Euth 
(Potter)  Doolittle  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  His 
father  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  June  1,  1750. 
Giles,  his  son,  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Conn.,  on  the 
22d  day  of  May,  1794.  His  first  years  were  spent  in 
the  quiet  ways  of  a  Connecticut  home,  and  under  the 
instructions   and   prayers   of  a   pious  mother.     When 

1  Gillett's  History,  ii.  1. 


304  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

about  six  or  seven  years  of  age,  he  was  the  subject  of 
deep  religious  impressions,  that  were  never  afterwards 
obliterated.  He  had  then  such  views  of  the  evil  of  sin, 
and  the  holiness  of  God,  as  influenced  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  Later  in  life  he  was  inclined  to  believe  that 
at  this  time  God's  saving  grace  commenced  its  work  in 
his  soul. 

Early  in  life  an  incident  occurred  that  seems  to  have 
influenced  all  his  subsequent  years.  He  read  in  the 
Connecticut  Magazine  an  account  of  the  labors  and 
privations  of  the  missionaries  in  the  West.  The  ac- 
count so  moved  him  that  he  secretly  resolved  that  he 
would  devote  himself  to  the  ministry  and  the  missionary 
work.  But  circumstances  seemed  for  a  long  time  to 
be  in  the  way  of  his  preparation  for  this  great  work. 
His  parents  were  dependent  upon  his  care,  and  he 
could  not  leave  them.  In  his  eighteenth  year  he  made 
a  public  profession  of  religion,  and  connected  himself 
with  the  Congregational  church  in  his  native  town. 
About  this  time  his  mother  died ;  and  in  his  twenty- 
third  year  his  father  was  called  away,  leaving  him  free 
to  follow  his  inclination  and  conviction  of  duty  by 
commencing  preparations  for  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
After  studying  for  a  few  months,  he  became  discour- 
aged, as  he  looked  at  his  age  and  the  long  years  that 
must  elapse  before  he  could  enter  upon  the  work.  The 
narrowness  of  his  own  means  also  added  to  this  dis- 
couragement. 

He  now  removed  to  Oneida  County,  New  York,  and 
engaged  in  teaching.  Here,  through  the  advice  and 
encouragement  of  friends,  he  once  more  resumed  his 
studies,  and  entered  Hamilton  College  in  his  twenty- 
fourth  year.  Graduating  in  1822,  he  returned  to  his 
native  town  and  commenced  the  study  of  theology  with 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  305 

his  old  friend  and  pastor,  Rev.  Luther  Hart,  and  in  due 
time  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  South 
Association  of  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  June  3,  1823. 
After  preaching  for  a  time  in  Connecticut,  he  journeyed 
westward,  and  tarried  for  a  time  in  Oneida  County,  New 
York.     But  his  desire  to  carry  out  his  youthful  plans 
soon  induced  him  to  move  still  further  west,  and  in  the 
year  1824  he  came  to  Chautauque  County,  New  York. 
Whilst  in  Oneida  County,  he  placed  himself  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida,  and  on  coming  into 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  he  put  himself 
under  the   care   of   that    Presbytery,   being   received 
March    2,    1825.      Accepting   calls   from    the   united 
churches  of  North  East  and  Ripley,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  at  the  former  place,  on  the  14th  day  of 
April,  1825.     In  these  exercises  Johnston  Eaton  (20) 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Samuel  Tait   (3)  delivered 
the  charges.     This  relation  continued  for  five  years, 
when,  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1830,  he   was  at  his 
own  request  dismissed  from  Ripley,  and  gave  the  whole 
of  his  time  to  North  East.     In  the  latter  church  his 
labors  continued  until  September  12,  1832,  when  at 
his  own  request  he  was  dismissed.     His  labors  were 
greatly  blessed  at  North  East,  and  many  were  gathered 
into  the  fold  of  the  Redeemer.     It  is  said  that  he  after- 
wards regretted  having   sundered  his  connection  with 
this  church.    He  left  it,  however,  strong  and  flourishing. 
On  the  10th  day  of  April,  1833,  Mr.  Doolittle  was 
dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  connected 
himself  with  that  of  Portage,  having  entered  upon  pas- 
toral labor  in  Hudson,  Ohio.     He  was  soon  alterwards 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  that 
place.    This  relation  continued  until  the  spring  of  1840, 
when  his  declining  health  obliged  him  to  withdraw  from 
20 


306  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

all  the  duties  and  labors  of  the  ministry.  His  disease 
was  pulmonary  consumption,  and  with  all  its  flattering 
voices,  the  invalid  felt  that  his  work  upon  earth  was 
almost  done.  Although  he  had  relinquished  all  pastoral 
cares,  he  yet  continued  in  a  very  feeble  condition.  For 
the  last  few  months  of  his  life,  he  went  down  rap- 
idly to  the  grave.  Under  all  his  afflictions,  he  was 
uniformly  patient,  calm,  and  hopeful.  God  was  his 
stay  and  his  helper.  His  mind  was  clear  and  untroubled 
to  the  last.  In  view  of  leaving  his  children  portionless, 
he  said  he  left  them  with  a  covenant-keeping  God,  whose 
promises  were  a  more  sure  and  blessed  inheritance  than 
millions  of  gold. 

As  the  light  of  earth  grew  dim,  and  the  splendors  of 
the  heavenly  world  were  bursting  upon  his  vision,  rais- 
ing both  hands  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  O  death !  where  is  thy  sting  ?  0  grave  !  where  is  thy 
victory  ?  " 

And  these  were  his  last  words.  His  spirit  departed 
on  the  morning  of  September  22,  1842,  in  the  forty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twentieth  of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Doolittle  was  twice  married.  His  first  marriage 
was  in  Oneida  County,  New  York,  to  Miss  Bethena 
Brooks,  September,  1823.  Her  death  took  place  at 
North  East,  Pa.,  in  June,  1831.  He  was  married  the 
second  time  to  Miss  Electa  Upham,  of  Jamestown,  New 
York,  November  8,  1831.  He  was  the  father  of  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  have  gone  to  rest.  Three 
daughters  with  his  widow  yet  survive. 

"  As  a  pastor  he  was  faithful,  prayerful,  and  watchful, 
laboring  for  the  good  of  souls,  to  the  extent  of  his 
physical  health  and  strength.  As  a  preacher  he  was 
plain,  evangelical,  and  solemn,  applying  the  truth  rather 
to  the  intellect  and  conscience,  than  to  the  emotions  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  307 

the  hearer.  His  natural  temperament  was  sedate  and 
calm  ;  his  disposition  was  serious  but  kind,  amiable,  and 
affectionate."  ^ 

He  left  the  following  messaore  for  the  church  of  which 
he  had  been  pastor :  — 

"  Tell  them  to  remember  their  solemn  covenant  with 

God,  and  with  one  another Tell  them  to 

rally  round  their  pastor  and  sustain  his  hands  and  up- 
hold him  in  every  good  work,  and  beware  of  all  influ- 
ences that  divide  and  destroy  the  peace  of  Zion." 

His  message  to  the  impenitent  was,  — 

"  Tell  them  I  thank  them  deeply  and  cordially,  for 
their  kindness.      May  the  Lord  richly  reward  them. 

.  .  .  .  My  last  prayers  are  for  their  salvation. 
Bid  them  delay  not  to  seek  and  find  that  peace  and  joy 
in  believing,  without  which  they  cannot  possess  the 
reward  of  the  righteous." 

One  who  knew  him  well,^  and  who  was  brought  into 
the  church  at  North  East  through  his  ministry,  thus 
speaks  of  him :  — 

"  He  was  a  good  preacher,  with  a  pleasant  voice  and 
delivery,  talents  above  the  average ;  of  medium  size, 
spare,  gray  eyes,  sallow  complexion,  with  a  mild,  be- 
nignant countenance,  and  such  a  heavenly  smile !  I 
never  heard  him  converse  on  any  other  subject  than  that 
of  religion.  He  was  a  Puritan  of  the  Puritans.  He 
seemed  to  be  always  faithful,  always  zealous,  always  at 
the  post  of  duty.  He  never  unbent,  was  very  reticent, 
and  had  remarkable  control  over  his  feelings  ;  so  much 
so  that  he  preached  one  Sabbath,  when  one  of  his 
children  lay  dead  at  home.  He  was  cheerful  under  all 
trials  ;  nothing  seemed  to  disturb  him,  except  the  wrong- 
doing of  his  people.     Then  he  would  weep  over  them, 

1  Prof.  Hickok.  2  Miss  Jacks. 


308  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

and  be  moved  as  no  bereavements  of  his  own  could 
move  him.  Yet  he  was  not  a  stern  man,  but  kind  and 
gentle  to  all.  When  his  wife  died,  whilst  attending  the 
funeral,  he  announced  the  hymn  — 

"  Unvail  th}'  bosom,  faithful  tomb," 
and  preached  her  funeral  sermon  himself  the  following 
Sabbath.  In  this  sermon,  his  manner  was  calm,  and 
with  apparent  impassiveness  he  depicted  her  character, 
speaking  of  her  many  excellences,  without  exaggerating 
them. 

(34.)  NATHAN  HARNED. 

1822-1854. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  led  a  life  of  vicissitudes. 
Being  of  a  delicate  constitution,  his  health  suffered  dur- 
ing his  preparatory  studies,  and  throughout  the  remain- 
der of  his  life  he  was  unable  to  enter  with  vigor  upon 
the  active  labors  of  the  ministry.  But  he  seems  to 
have  been  active  and  diligent  according  to  his  measure 
of  strength,  and  has  left  behind  him  the  testimony  that 
he  was  an  earnest,  faithful  minister  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment. 

Nathan  Harned,  the  son  of  David  and  Hannah 
(Walker)  Harned,  was  born  in  Rockingham  County, 
Va.,  on  the  4th  day  of  February,  1789.  Of  his  early  life 
and  struggles,  previous  to  entering  the  household  of 
faith  and  dedicating  himself  to  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry,  nothing  can  here  be  said.  It  would  be  a  val- 
uable contribution  to  the  history  of  the  church,  if  this 
important  chapter  on  the  lives  of  its  ministers  could  be 
written,  setting  forth  the  struggles  and  the  resolutions, 
the  doubts  and  the  fears,  that  agitate  their  minds  pre- 
vious to  commencing  the  great  work. 

Mr.  Harned's  academical  studies  were  pursued  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  309 

city  of  New  York.  He  was  at  this  time  in  religious 
creed  and  profession  a  Baptist,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  theology  in  the  Theological  Institution  of  the 
Baptist  General  Convention,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
Here  he  continued  for  three  years,  and  completing  his 
course,  received  a  certificate  of  the  same,  July  25, 
1821. 

He  was  regularly  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  a 
Baptist  association,  and  soon  after  received  a  call  from 
a  Baptist  church  in  Northern  Pennsylvania.  But  his 
mind  was  not  at  ease.  He  entertained  grave  doubts  in 
regard  to  the  peculiar  tenets  held  by  his  church,  that 
made  him  hesitate  in  regard  to  accepting  this  call.  He 
took  time  to  review  the  whole  ground  in  relation  to  the 
subject  of  baptism  and  ecclesiastical  polity,  as  enter- 
tained by  his  church.  The  call  to  the  church  in  Penn- 
sylvania was  declined.  After  a  thorough  examination 
of  the  whole  subject,  with  earnest  prayer  for  guidance 
and  direction,  he  renounced  the  doctrinal  peculiarities 
of  his  Baptist  brethren,  and  placed  himself  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  by  that 
Presbytery  licensed  at  a  meeting  held  at  Doylestown,  on 
the  16th  day  of  October,  1822. 

His  name  first  appears  on  the  records  of  Erie  Pres- 
bytery in  1824.  He  was  regularly  received  under  its 
care  on  the  2d  day  of  March,  1825,  having  preached  for 
some  time  previous  to  this  in  Warren  County,  Pa.  At 
the  same  meeting  at  which  he  was  received,  calls  were 
placed  in  his  hands  by  Presbytery,  from  the  congrega- 
tions of  Warren,  Sugar  Grove,  Great  Brokenstraw,  and 
Lottsville.  These  calls  were  accepted,  and  arrange- 
ments made  for  his  ordination  and  installation.  This 
took  place  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  at  Warren 
on  the  20th  day  of  April,  1825.   In  these  exercises,  Mr. 


310  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Tait  (3)  preached  the  sermon,  and  Mr.  Chase  (25)  of- 
fered the  ordaining  prayer  and  delivered  the  charges. 

This  was  a  large  field  for  the  young  pastor,  and  in- 
volved a  large  amount  of  labor.  The  labor  was  per- 
formed, however,  in  these  four  churches  for  nearly  a 
year,  when  leave  was  asked  to  resign  the  charge  of 
Broken  straw,  and  probably  Lottsville.  The  relation 
appears  to  have  been  a  harmonious  one,  as  an  elder 
White  from  the  former  church  declared,  "  that  the  con- 
gregation thought  it  was  a  matter  of  regret  that  Mr. 
Harned  should  leave  them,"  yet  under  the  circum- 
stances, could  not  object  to  the  dissolution  of  the  pas- 
toral relation.  It  was  accordingly  dissolved.  In  the 
month  of  May  following,  the  relation  with  the  churches 
of  Warren  and  Sugar  Grove  was  dissolved. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1826,  Mr.  Harned  asked  and 
received  a  dismission  to  connect  himself  with  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hartford  (now  Beaver) 

In  the  fall  of  1826,  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  was 
conferred  on  him  by  Alleghany  College. 

His  next  field  of  labor  was  Youngstown,  Ohio,  at 
that  time  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford, 
or  Beaver.  Here  he  labored  about  three  years,  when 
failing  health  compelled  him  once  more  to  resign  his 
charge.  He  then  spent  some  time  in  the  South  and 
Southwest,  hoping  that  a  more  genial  climate  might 
restore  his  wasted  energies.  From  Hartford  Presby- 
tery, he  received  a  dismission,  October  5,  1830,  and 
connected  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia. 
His  next  field  was  Ridley,  Delaware  County,  Pa.,  where 
he  labored  for  a  time  under  appointment  by  the  Board 
of  Missions.     This  appointment  dates  January  1,  1831. 

After  this,  health  failing,  and  suffering  from  an  affec- 
tion of  the  throat,^  precluding  for  the  time  the  idea  of 
1  Dr.  John  McDowell. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  311 

preaching,  with  the  consent  and  advice  of  Presbytery, 
he  engaged  in  secular  business.  We  find  him  next 
at  New  Orleans,  probably  engaged  in  secular  employ- 
ment, yet  with  improving  health,  for  he  was  able  in  part 
to  supply  the  pulpit  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
during  the  temporary  absence  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  R.  L. 
Stanton,  D.  D.  He  also  supplied,  occasionally,  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  the  third  municipality,  then  vacant. 
This  was  in  1850. 

About  this  time  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  was 
connected  with  the  Penn  Presbyterian  Church,  which 
he  served  as  a  ruling  elder  and  superintendent  of  a 
Sabbath-school  of  five  hundred  scholars. 

Mr.  Harned's  labors  on  earth  closed  on  the  9th  day 
of  October,  1854.  He  died  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
of  disease  of  the  heart,  cancer  of  the  stomach,  and  hy- 
drothorax.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian Cemetery  at  Abington,  Montgomery  County,  Pa. 

(35.)  WELLS   BUSHNELL. 

1825-1863. 

Wells  Bushnell,  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Sarah 
(Wells)  Bushnell,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in 
the  month  of  April,  1799.  His  mother  was  a  pious 
woman,  and  by  a  godly  example  and  earnest  precept, 
strove  to  bring  up  her  family  in  the  fear  of  God.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen,  Wells  Bushnell  was  living  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  there,  and  at  that  time, 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  and  connected 
himself  with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  then  un- 
der the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Francis  Herron,  D.  D. 

After  some  preparatory  study,  he  became  a  student 
of  Jefferson  College,  where  he  graduated  in  due  course. 


4 

312  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

His  theological  education  was  completed  at  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary.  He  was  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  and  licensed 
probably  in  the  year  1825. 

His  name  first  appears  on  the  minutes  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  on  May  24,  1826,  when,  as  a  licentiate, 
he  presented  a  certificate  of  dismission  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  and  asked  to  be  taken  under 
its  care.  Calls  having  been  presented  from  the  church 
of  Meadville,  Pa.,  for  his  pastoral  labors,  Luke  ii.  11 
was  assigned  him  as  part  of  trials  for  ordination.  The 
ordination  took  place  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  1826.  In 
these  exercises,  Joseph  Stockton  (4),  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Ohio,  preached  the  sermon,  Samuel  Tait  (3)  deliv- 
ered the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Johnston  Eaton  (20) 
the  charge  to  the  people. 

This  relation  continued  until  June  26,  1833,  when,  at 
his  own  request,  it  was  dissolved,  in  order  that  he  might 
go  as  a  missionary  to  the  Wea  Indians.  The  "  West- 
ern Board  of  Foreign  Missions "  had  been  recently 
established  at  Pittsburgh,  and  as  missions  were  about  to 
be  organized  for  different  points  in  heathen  lands,  Mr. 
Bushnell  felt  impelled  to  offer  himself  for  the  work. 
His  warm,  impulsive  heart  was  stirred  to  its  depths  with 
a  longing  desire  to  engage  in  the  great  work.  His  firm 
and  earnest  conviction  was,  that  the  voice  of  the  Master 
was  calling  him  to  the  work,  and  he  resolved  to  sunder 
the  tie  that  bound  him  to  an  attached  people,  and  labor 
and  toil  as  best  he  might  for  the  welfare  of  the  be- 
nighted and  the  dying.  And  so,  with  his  family,  he 
entered  the  wilds  of  the  West.  But  he  had  overesti- 
mated his  constitution  and  power  of  endurance.  With 
all  his  self-denial  and  earnestness,  he  experienced  little 
but  excessive  fatigue,  and  prolonged  sickness  of  himself 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  313 

and  family,  until  he  was  worn  out  and  discouraged.  His 
labors  continued  in  the  Indian  country  for  one  year  and 
a  half,  when  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  return  to  the  East. 
No  doubt  his  labor  and  self-sacrifice  were  accepted  of 
the  Master,  even  though  he  was  permitted  to  see  but 
little  fruit  of  his  labor.  No  doubt  it  was  said  of  him  as 
of  one  of  old,  "  He  hath  done  what  he  could." 

After  leaving  the  Indian  country,  he  returned  to  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  where  his  parents  resided.  After  a  sea- 
son of  rest,  he  received  an  invitation  to  supply  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  the 
absence  of  the  regular  pastor.  He  was  also  earnestly 
solicited  to  take  charge  of  a  new  church  enterprise  in 
that  city.  But  his  views  on  the  subject  of  slavery  were 
even  at  that  day  so  strongly  in  opposition  to  this  institu- 
tion, that  he  could  not  consistently  accept.  He  then 
accepted  a  call  to  the  congregation  at  Greensburg, 
Ind.,  in  connection  with  one  at  Shelbyville,  in  the  same 
State.  After  laboring  here  for  one  year  and  a  half, 
his  health  failed,  and  he  returned  to  New  Albany.  Soon 
after  this,  he  returned  to  Pittsburgh,  for  the  purpose  of 
rest  and  recruiting  his  health. 

Whilst  in  Pittsburgh,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to 
supply  the  churches  of  Gravel  Run  and  Cambridge,  in 
Crawford  County,  Pa. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1836,  he  had  been  dismissed 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  that  of  Indianapolis. 
On  the  11th  day  of  April,  1838,  he  was  received  again 
into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

On  the  18th  day  of  April,  1839,  he  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  having  accepted  calls  to  the 
church  of  New  Castle,  Pa.  Here  he  continued  to  labor 
for  fifteen  years  and  a  half,  with  much  success. 

At  the  close  of  this  period,  a  change  took  place  in 


314  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Mr.  Buslinell's  views,  in  regard  to  his  church  relation. 
He  was  not  satisfied  with  the  position  of  the  church  on 
the  question  of  slavery.  In  this  matter  he  was  honest 
and  sincere,  and  felt  that  he  could  no  longer  remain 
in  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  accordingly  severed 
his  connection  with  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  and 
united  with  the  "  Free  Presbyterian  Church."  In  this 
new  relation,  he  ministered  to  the  congregations  of 
Mount  Jackson,  Lawrence  County,  and  New  Bedford, 
Mercer  County,  until  the  close  of  his  earthly  labors. 
The  disease  that  terminated  in  his  death  was  cholera 
morbus.  He  died  at  Mount  Jackson,  on  the  16th  day 
of  July,  1863,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age  and 
thirty-eighth  of  his  ministry. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  1826,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Eleanor  Hannen,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  John 
Hannen,  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Five  children  survived 
him,  four  daughters  and  one  son. 

Mr.  Bushnell  was  a  successful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.  His  heart  was  warm,  and  sometimes  his  zeal 
bore  down  his  judgment.  Says  one  who  was  a  co- 
presbyter  ;  "  He  was  a  good  minister  of  Jesus  Christ, 
a  very  good  preacher,  and  a  good  pastor.  During  his 
stay  at  Meadville,  his  labors  were  much  blessed,  and  no 
man  in  these  parts  was  more  popular  than  he.  A  ready 
mind  and  a  determined  will  rendered  his  conclusions 
often  premature,  but  he  was  a  dear  brother  and  devoted 
to  his  JMaster's  work." 

Says  one  of  his  session  at  his  first  field  of  labor : 
"  He  was  courteous,  familiar,  and  pleasant  in  general 
intercourse.  As  a  Christian,  he  was  esteemed  as  sin- 
cere and  zealous ;  as  a  minister,  his  sermons  were  well 
written,  and  delivered  with  unction,  and  with  us  his 
ministry  was  much  blessed." 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  315 

His  end  was  peace.     He  failed  rapidly  at  the  last, 
but  expressed  his  prospects  as  "  all  glorious." 

(37.)   THOMAS  ANDEKSON. 

1825-1853. 
Thomas  Andersox,  the  son  of  John  and  


(Laughlin)  Anderson,  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pa.,  on  the  first  day  of  the  new  year,  1791.  His  an- 
cestors were  Irish.  His  parents  removed  to  this  coun- 
try from  Tyrone  County,  Ireland,  in  1787.  Thomas 
was  raised  a  farmer,  and  at  twelve  years  of  age  was 
talked  of  in  the  family,  as  the  prospective  student  of 
college.  Difficulties  were  in  the  way,  however,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  age  of  twenty-one,  that  the  way  was 
opened  up  for  the  commencement  of  his  studies.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Neshannock,  Mercer  County,  Pa., 
then  under  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  William  Wick. 
His  is  the  old  story  of  the  early  ministers  —  poverty, 
struggles,  discouragements :  and  yet  over  all  he  tri- 
umphed. He  studied  Latin  and  Greek  partly  at  home, 
partly  at  Greersburg  Academy,  sometimes  teaching, 
sometimes  laboring  with  his  hands,  until  he  was  fitted 
for  college.  He  graduated  at  Washington  College,  Pa., 
in  1820.  In  his  early  struggles  he  walked  several  miles 
to  the  home  of  Mr.  Wick,  to  borrow  a  Latin  gram- 
mar. Here  he  first  saw  the  lady  who  eight  years  after- 
wards became  his  wife. 

After  graduating,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  on  the 
11th  of  October,  1820,  to  Miss  Phebe,  daughter  of  Rev. 
William  Wick  (2),  and  removing  to  the  town  of  Mer- 
cer, took  charge  of  the  academy  in  that  place.  Here 
he  taught  for  five  years,  paying  off  the  balance  of  his 


316  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

college  debts,  purchased  a  little  home  in  Mercer,  and  at 
the  same  time  pursued  his  theological  studies  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Tait  (3),  pastor  of  the  church  in  Mer- 
cer, copying  out  carefully  and  neatly  Dr.  McMillan's 
system  of  divinity,  which  was  the  sine  qua  non  of  all 
the  earlier  ministers. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1825.  His 
first  sermon  after  licensure,  was  delivered  January  1, 
1826  ;  he  was  that  day  thirty-four  years  of  age,  and  had 
a  wife  and  two  children. 

He  commenced  his  ministerial  labors  regularly  at 
Concord,  May  7,  1826  ;  at  Big  Sugar  Creek,  the  Sab- 
bath folloAving ;  and  at  Franklin,  June  11,1826.  All 
these  places  are  in  Venango  County,  Pa.  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  September  19,  1826, 
and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  above  congregations.  In 
these  exercises,  Mr.  Bushnell  preached  the  sermon,  Mr. 
Chase  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinney  the  charge  to  the  people. 

He  lived  near  the  Sugar  Creek  Church  at  this  time, 
rode  seven  miles  to  Franklin,  and  over  twenty  to  Con- 
cord. In  addition  to  these  places  he  performed  a  large 
amount  of  missionary  work  through  Venango  and  the 
neighboring  counties. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1831,  he  was  released  from  the 
charge  of  the  congregation  of  Concord,  and  gave  all  his 
time  to  Franklin  and  Big  Sugar  Creek,  living  at  the 
former  place.  He  was  released  from  the  charge  of 
Franklin  on  the  12th  of  September,  1837,  and  probably 
from  Big  Sugar  Creek  about  the  same  time. 

At  the  division  of  the  Presbytery,  in  1838,  Mr.  An- 
derson adhered  to  the  New  School.  He  labored  for  a 
time  after  this  in  Beaverdam  and  Union,  in  Erie  Coun- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  317 

ty,  and  in  1843  removed  to  Huntington,  Indiana.  Here 
he  organized  a  Presbyterian  church  in  November,  1843, 
consisting  of  nine  members.  It  was  the  first  evangel- 
ical church  organized  in  the  place,  and  the  first  point  of 
Presbyterian  preaching  in  the  county.  Here  he  la- 
bored faithfully  for  five  years,  when  growing  infirmities 
compelled  him  to  think  of  resigning.  He  was  released 
from  his  charge  of  Huntington,  January  9,  1848.  In  re- 
lation to  this  resignation  he  says,  "  I  feel  sad  to  think  I 
cannot  stay  and  work  in  the  harvest.  I  have  the  heart 
but  not  the  strength  ;  but  what  little  strength  I  have  I 
expect  to  use  for  missionary  ends.  I  am  not  afraid  of 
poverty  and  want. 

"  '  My  Shepherd  will  supply  my  need, 
Jehovah  is  his  name.'  " 

Mr.  Anderson  records  that  whilst  laboring  in  the 
Erie  Presbytery  for  sixteen  years,  he  preached  two 
thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-two  sermons.  On  one 
occasion  he  rode  twenty  miles,  preached,  and  then  rode 
four  miles  further  before  eating.  He  loved  to  speak  of 
his  old  charge  in  Venango  County,  Pennsylvania. 

"  My  heart  clings,"  he  writes,  "  to  my  native  land,  my 
boyhood's  home,  my  first  field  of  ministerial  labor.  The 
impressions  there  made,  the  friendships  there  formed, 
and  the  associations  that  cluster  around  the  phrase 
*  pastor  and  people,'  are  too  sacred  to  be  trifled  with 
and  too  precious  to  be  forgotten." 

So  he  continued  to  labor  whilst  he  had  strength, 
preaching  Christ  to  the  poor  and  destitute,  until  the 
Master  called  him  to  his  rest  and  his  reward. 

His  death  was  sudden.  The  circumstances  attending 
it  are  furnished  by  his  daughter.^  "  After  family  wor- 
ship he  retired  to  rest.  Mother  spent  the  night  with  a  sick 
1  Mrs.  B.  A.  Moore. 


318  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

grand-daughter  iip-stairs.  At  the  hour  father  usually 
arose,  she  heard  him  uttering  a  groan,  and  hastened  to 
him.  He  remarked  that  he  had  not  slept  well ;  that 
just  now  he  had  such  a  dreadful  pain  about  his  heart ; 
if  he  had  another  such  attack  it  would  kill  him.  She 
hastened  to  prepare  warm  stimulants,  and  send  for  a  phy- 
sician, but  before  she  returned  to  his  bedside,  '  he  was 
not,  for  God  took  him.'  If  there  were  fears  and  an- 
guish during  the  long  watches  of  that  night,  they  were 
known  only  to  Him,  who  '  neither  slumbers  nor  sleeps.' 

"  He  laid  aside  his  raiment  for  the  night, 
And  angels  clothed  him  in  the  coming  light: 
So  like  his  life,  he  passed  from  earth  away, 
Quiet  and  peaceful  —  God  alone  his  stay." 

He  died  at  Huntington,  Indiana,  on  the  22d  day  of 
December,  1853,  a  few  days  before  he  had  completed 
his  sixty-third  year,  and  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his 
ministry. 

Mrs.  Anderson  has  since  rejoined  him  in  rest.  They 
had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  survive  them.  The 
eldest  son.  Rev.  Philander  Anderson,  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis. 

Rev.  A.  W.  Freeman,  a  co-presbyter,  says  of  Mr. 
Anderson,  "  His  piety  was  humble  and  child-like.  His 
manner  of  conducting  devotional  meetings  was  exceed- 
ingly happy.  As  a  preacher  he  was  clear,  logical,  earn- 
est, forcible,  and  striking  ;  and  had  not  his  health  been 
impaired,  he  would  have  been  well  qualified  to  minister 
to  any  congregation  to  the  end  of  his  life." 

A  plain  stone,  erected  to  his  memory,  bears  the  fol- 
lowing inscription  :  — 

REV.  THOMAS  ANDERSON, 

Died  December  22, 1853,  aged  63  years. 
Graduated  at  Washington  College,  in  1819. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  319 

Ordained  at  Franklin,  Pa.,  in  1826. 

Removed  to  Huntington,  Ind.,  in  1843. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  this  place. 

*'  Thy  sun  shall  no  more  go  down ;  neither  shall  thy  moon  withdraw 

itself;  for  the  Lord  shall  be  thine  everlasting  light,  and  the  days  of 

thy  mourning  shall  be  ended." 

(38.)  PIERCE  CHAMBERLAIN. 

1822-1850. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  11th  day 
of  June,  1790,  in  Newark,  Delaware.  He  was  the  son 
of  Joseph  and'  Martha  Chamberlain,  respectable  and 
worthy  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  this 
faith  he  was  nurtured  and  brought  up.  The  grace  of 
God,  free  and  sovereign,  was  most  signally  manifested 
in  his  life  history.  For  years  he  was  tossed  upon  a  sea 
of  doubts  and  fears,  with  struggles  and  conflicts  innu- 
merable, yet  safely  anchoring  in  the  quiet  harbor  at 
last. 

About  the  time  of  arriving  at  maturity,  he  became 
thoughtful  and  anxious  about  the  interests  of  salvation. 
He  read  much  in  Quaker  books  of  devotion,  but  ob- 
tained little  satisfactory  light.  So  great  was  his  internal 
distress  and  agitation,  that  his  health  suffered  in  conse- 
quence. His  mind  became  morbid,  and  doubts  were 
entertained  in  regard  to  a  future  state.  He  was  driven 
almost  to  the  verge  of  insanity,  induced  by  despair.  In 
this  condition  of  doubt  and  mental  distraction,  the  great 
Adversary  tempted  him  to  take  his  own  life,  and  he 
actually  repaired  to  the  bank  of  a  creek  for  that  pur- 
pose. But  the  grace  of  God  prevented.  He  reflected 
that  this  would  be  folly  and  wickedness,  and  lying  down 
beneath  an  apple-tree,  gave  himself  up  to  the  most  ter- 
rible struggle  through  which  he  had  ever  passed.  Foiled 


320  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

in  his  attempt  to  lead  him  to  self-destruction,  the  great 
enemy  tried  a  new  system  of  tactics.  He  suggested  a 
doubt  of  the  being  of  God.  This  was  accepted  at  once, 
and  the  young  man  sprang  to  his  feet  and  returned 
home  full  of  a  deceptive  joy,  for  now  he  felt  there  was 
no  accountability  hereafter.  His  joy  was  manifest  to 
his  friends,  and  he  seemed  to  be  from  this  time  com- 
pletely in  the  Devil's  toils. 

But  all  this  time  the  grace  of  God  was  following  him. 
His  atheism  soon  forsook  him,  and  he  found  himself  in 
the  depths  of  darkness  and  wretchedness.  Going  to 
Philadelphia,  he  heard  the  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner  preach  on 
the  Divine  Decrees.  This  sermon  was  ordered  in  the 
providence  of  God,  for  his  special  benefit  and  enlight- 
enment. It  produced  a  great  change  in  his  views.  He 
now  beheld  the  Lord  .Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Saviour  of  the 
guilty,  and  the  hope  of  the  helpless.  Comfort  came  to 
his  mind.  Peace  filled  his  heart.  The  love  of  Christ 
seemed  to  him  so  great  and  so  wonderful  that  he  not  only 
gave  himself  up  to  his  service,  but  resolved  to  devote 
himself  to  the  gospel  ministry. 

He  attended  the  Academy  at  Andover  for  a  short 
period,  but  health  failing,  he  returned  to  his  home,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  a  time.  After  this  he  was  en- 
gaged as  clerk  in  a  store,  engaging  in  study  at  the 
Newark  Academy,  as  health  and  strength  would  per- 
mit. Thus  he  advanced  from  one  degree  to  another  in 
his  studies,  until  he  commenced  that  of  theology.  This 
study  was  pursued  with  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner  and  others, 
until  the  4th  day  of  April,  1822,  when  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle. 
The  Presbytery  was  induced  to  relax  the  usual  rule  in 
regard  to  a  full  course  of  classical  study,  because  of  the 
age,  delicacy  of  health,  and  apparent  maturity  of  judg- 
ment, prudence,  and  zeal  of  the  candidate. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  321 

Mr.  Chamberlain  preached  for  some  time  in  his  own 
Presbytery,  the  vacancies  of  which  were  numerous.  He 
had  much  of  the  missionary  spirit,  and  for  a  time  la- 
bored in  the  almshouses  and  prisons  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  lowly  and  the 
wretched.  After  continuing  these  labors  for  some  few 
years,  he  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Castle,  and  received  a  commission  from 
the  Board  of  Missions  to  labor  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  first  visited  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie 
in  1826,  and  labored  for  some  time  in  the  vacant 
churches  with  much  acceptance.  On  the  12th  day  of 
April,  he  accepted  calls  from  the  church  of  Springfield, 
in  Erie  County,  and  on  the  16th  of  January,  1828,  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  that  church.  But  his  pastoral  labors 
were  brief  here.  Ill  health,  that  had  stood  in  his  way 
ever  since  he  commenced  his  preparatory  studies,  com- 
pelled him  to  ask  the  Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation.  This  was  done  on  the  1st  day  of  October, 
1828. 

From  this  time,  until  the  spring  of  1836,  he  labored 
as  a  missionary  throughout  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery, preaching  in  school-houses  and  private  dwellings, 
whenever  and  wherever  he  could  collect  a  conm-ecration 
to  hear  him.  For  this  kind  of  labor  he  was  eminently 
fitted,  for  although  usually  a  taciturn  man,  he  had  a 
wonderful  faculty  of  attracting  children  to  him,  and  was 
always  well  provided  with  books  and  tracts  to  distrib- 
ute, and  had  a  word  of  kindness  and  advice  for  all 
classes  of  people.  In  these  labors  in  the  highways  and 
hedges,  the  people  hung  upon  his  words.  There  was  a 
solemnity  and  unction  in  his  preaching  that,  in  that 
day,  was  most  persuasive  and  attractive.  Through 
21 


322  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

these  missionary  labors  many  people  were  turned  to  the 
Lord. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  he  received  and  accepted  calls 
from  the  congregations  of  Waterford  and  Union.  He 
was  installed  as  pastor  on  the  loth  day  of  September, 
1836.  After  this,  having  given  up  the  charge  of  Union, 
he  labored  at  Gravel  Run  in  connection  with  Water- 
ford  for  a  number  of  years.  Here  his  health  again 
failed,  and  he  was  released  from  his  pastoral  charge. 
He  soon  after  left  the  bounds  of  Erie  Presbytery,  and 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Newark,  Delaware. 

At  the  time  of  the  division  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  1838,  Mr.  Chamberlain  identified  himself 
with  that  branch  popularly  known  as  the  New  School. 

On  his  return  to  Newark,  the  state  of  his  health  pre- 
cluding the  idea  of  a  pastoral  charge,  he  took  charge 
of  a  Female  Seminary,  in  the  labors  connected  with 
which  he  employed  himself  until  called  to  his  rest  and 
reward.  His  disease  was  cholera.  He  died  on  the 
2od  day  of  August,  1850,  in  the  sixty-first  year  of  his 
age,  and  twenty-ninth  of  his  ministry. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  light, 
thin  hair,  mild,  blue  eyes,  and  regular  features,  with  an 
expression  of  great  solemnity  and  earnest  thought  con- 
stantly manifested  in  his  countenance.  He  was  a  good 
man,  and  full  of  faith.  He  loved  the  cause  of  Zion. 
As  a  preacher,  he  was  most  solemn  and  impressive. 
He  dealt  not  so  much  in  logic  and  attempts  to  convince 
the  reason,  as  in  earnest  appeals  to  the  heart  and  con- 
science. He  did  not  so  much  point  his  hearers  to  Sinai 
as  to  Calvary ;  nor  did  he  so  much  dwell  upon  the  jus- 
tice and  righteousness  of  God,  as  upon  his  love  and 
mercy,  as  set  forth  in  the  work  of  Jesus  Christ.  He 
had  many  warmly  attached  friends,  all  over  his  mission- 


BIOGKAPHICAL.  323 

ary  field,  and  men  went  long  distances  fo  hear  him, 
where  he  had  appointments  to  preach.  He  was  a  man 
of  prayer.  Although  not  without  his  weaknesses  of 
temper,  yet  he  preserved  an  admirable  government 
over  himself  through  the  grace  of  God. 

Mr.  Chamberlain  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Christiana  B.  Whitehill,  of  Strasburg,  Pa.  He  left 
four  or  five  children  with  the  precious  legacy  of  a  fath- 
er's prayers,  and  the  memory  of  a  father's  usefulness  and 
devotion  and  unselfish  labor  in  the  Master's  cause,  to 
stimulate  them  to  duty  and  diligence  and  labor.  One 
of  these  children  is  Rev.  George  Chamberlain,  mission- 
ary to  Brazil. 

(42.)  EDSON  HART. 

1867. 

Mr.  Hart  most  probably  came  from  New  England. 
He  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1830,  on  certificate  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Trumbull.  He  labored  for  a  few  years  at  Springfield 
and  Girard,  as  a  stated  supply.  After  removing  from 
the  bounds  of  Presbytery,  he  acted  as  agent  for  some 
educational  project  in  Kentucky.  He  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Muhlenburg,  January  21,  1843. 
After  this  he  removed  to  New  Orleans,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  secular  business  in  connection  with  the 
Bible  agency,  until  the  beginning  of  the  war,  when  he 
came  north  and  stopped  in  Oldham  County,  Kentucky, 
where  he  died  on  the  19th  day  of  September,  1867. 


324  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

(44.)  ROBERT  GLENN. 
1831-1857. 

This  brother  was  in  a  peculiar  sense  a  child  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  was  born  within  its  boundaries. 
He  was  gathered  into  the  fold  of  the  Good  Shepherd 
through  the  ministry  of  its  members.  He  was  licensed 
and  ordained  by  it.  All  his  ministerial  labors  were  con- 
fined to  its  field  ;  and  within  its  bounds  his  sleeping 
dust  awaits  the  Master's  call  on  the  morning  of  the 
Resurrection. 

Robert  Glenn  was  born  on  the  2d  day  of  March, 
1802,  in  Wolfcreek  Township,  Mercer  County,  Pa.  It 
is  believed  that  his  deepest  convictions  of  sin,  and 
most  triumphant  hopes  in  Christ,  were  received  under 
the  ministrations  of  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  (3),  late  of  Mer- 
cer, Pa.  To  him  he  was  in  the  habit  of  going  in  his 
time  of  conflict  and  trouble,  seeking  instruction  and 
advice.  Often  the  mistake  was  made  that  is  so  com- 
mon in  all  religious  experience,  of  expecting  too  much 
from  the  minister  in  the  way  of  light  and  comfort.  The 
rugged  experience  and  matter-of-fact  mind  of  Mr. 
Tait  often  left  the  young  inquirer  to  labor  and  struggle 
and  wait  until  he  was  ready  to  conclude  that  his  spirit- 
ual adviser  was  without  sympathy  or  interest  in  his  wel- 
fare. But  he  afterwards  found  that  the  discipline  was 
most  salutary,  and  that  in  those  days  of  trial  he  was 
but  preparing  for  the  solemn  work  of  dealing  with  im- 
mortal souls,  in  the  labors  of  the  ministry.  Throughout 
his  entire  Christian  course  he  was  not  a  sanguine  Chris- 
tian. He  was  oftener  in  the  Valley  of  Humiliation  than 
on  the  Delectable  Mountains.  Yet  withal,  he  felt  that 
his  feet  were  planted  on  the  Rock,  and  whilst  trembling 
at  times  as  the  billows  dashed  around  him,  he  felt  safe. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  325 

After  some  preparatory  study,  Mr.  Glenn  became  a 
student  of  Jefferson  College,  where  he  graduated  in 
1828.  One  of  his  classmates  ^  at  College,  says,  "  While 
at  College,  he  was  one  of  the  most  sedate  and  circum- 
spect of  the  students  ;  and  although  cheerful,  free  from 
all  the  levities  so  characteristic  of  youth." 

Mr.  Glenn  was  for  two  years  a  student  of  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary.  He  also  studied  for  some 
time  under  the  advice  and  direction  of  his  old  pastor, 
Rev.  Samuel  Tait.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel, at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  held  at 
Mercer,  Pa.,  on  the  2d  day  of  February,  1831. 

The  intervening  year  and  a  half  was  spent  chiefly  in 
preaching  to  the  vacant  congregations  of  Amity,  Mill 
Creek,  and  Sandy  Lake,  where,  at  a  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery held  at  Mill  Creek  on  the  12th  day  of  September, 
1832,  he  was  ordained  to  the  whole  work  of  the  minis- 
try, and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Mill 
Creek  and  Amity  for  two  thirds  of  his  time.  The 
remaining  third  was  spent  as  a  stated  supply  in  the 
church  of  Sandy  Lake.  The  relation  to  the  church  of 
Amity  continued  until  April  3, 1850  ;  that  to  Mill  Creek 
until  it  was  dissolved  by  death. 

About  the  time  he  was  released  from  Amity,  the  rela- 
tion to  the  church  of  Sandy  Lake  was  suspended,  and 
Mr.  Glenn  accepted  calls  from  the  congregation  of  Big 
Sugar  Creek,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  there  on  the 
18th  day  of  June,  1850,  spending  half  his  time  in 
each  of  the  congregations  of  Mill  Creek  and  Big  Sugar 
Creek.  This  was  his  charge  during  the  remainder  of 
his  ministry,  making  at  Mill  Creek  a  ministry  of  over 
twenty-five  years. 

Mr.  Glenn  was  a  laborious  and  most  faithful  pastor. 
He  was  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,  and  liter- 
1  Eev.  Loyal  Young,  D.  D. 


826  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

ally  wore  himself  out  in  preaching  the  gospel.  He  was. 
not  a  great  man.  but  he  was  a  good  man.  He  was  not 
an  orator,  but  he  was  a  faithful  preacher  of  the  Word. 
He  labored  for  the  souls  of  men  as  one  that  must 
give  account.  He  labored  and  toiled  over  his  sermons 
as  the  miner  does  in  his  quest  for  gold.  It  is  not 
strange  then  that  his  preaching  was  accompanied  with 
the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power.  If  he 
did  not  excel  in  the  power  of  logic,  or  in  that  intense 
grappling  of  mind  with  great  subjects  that  exhibits 
peculiar  powers  of  intellect,  he  could  relate  the  simple 
story  of  the  Cross  with  most  persuasive  power  and  unc- 
tion. And,  like  Jacob  of  old,  he  had  peculiar  power  in 
wrestUng  with  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant.  He  was 
mighty  in  prayer.  Those  who  heard  him  felt  that  to 
him  the  mercy-seat  was  a  familiar  place,  and  that  rev- 
erence and  boldness  and  faith  were  all  prominent  in  his 
addresses  to  the  Most  High.  As  a  man  he  was  uni- 
formly meek,  humble,  diffident  of  his  own  judgment 
and  abilities,  yet  firm  in  his  adherence  to  principle 
and  conscience.  He  was  a  power  for  good  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  dwelt,  and  had  fewer  enemies  than 
many  who  are  less  zealous  for  the  cause  of  truth  and 
righteousness.  As  a  Christian  he  was  simple  and 
childlike  in  his  piety,  shrinking  from  any  allusion  to  his 
own  attainments ;  yet  most  evidently  bearing  about 
with  him  the  glow  of  ardent  love  to  God  and  the  souls 
of  men.  His  ministry  was  characterized  by  regular, 
systematic,  conscientious  effort,  and  its  fruits  were  a 
gradual  growth,  and  a  steady,  constant  adding  to  the 
church  not  only  from  the  families  already  connected 
with  it,  but  from  the  families  of  the  world. 

The  last  hours  of  such  a  man  were  of  course  peace- 
ful.    Constant  labor  and  frequent  exposure  gradually 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  327 

undermined  a  constitution  that  must  have  been  origi- 
nally of  great  power  and  endurance.  The  disease  to 
which  he  ultimately  succumbed  was  consumption.  He 
saw  the  end  approaching,  and  commenced  setting  his 
house  in  order.  His  religious  exercises  were  most  de- 
lightful and  comfortins:  to  those  who  witnessed  them. 
Yet  there  was  nothing  of  presumption  or  mere  senti- 
ment connected  with  them.  When  the  deep  waters 
were  approaching  his  footsteps,  a  ministerial  brother  in- 
quired if  he  felt  that  he  was  on  the  Rock.  He  replied, 
"  Yes ;  but  as  a  poor  guilty  sinner,  with  no  hope  but 
in  precious,  atoning  blood."  He  looked  across  the  dark 
valley,  not  with  the  presumption  of  the  sentimentalist, 
or  the  feigned  calmness  of  the  philosopher,  but  with  the 
earnest,  humble  faith  of  the  believer  in  Jesus.  And  thus, 
in  sublime  faith  and  childlike  confidence  in  God,  he 
passed  through  the  valley,  and  entered  the  City  of  Gold, 
to  "  see  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

His  death  occurred  on  the  morning  of  the  Sabbath, 
September  6,  1857  ;  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
burial  ground  of  the  church  of  Mill  Creek,  just  in  the 
rear  of  the  pulpit  from  which  he  had  preached  the  gospel 
for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  A  simple  marble 
shaft  marks  the  place  of  his  burial,  on  which  was  in- 
scribed, by  the  direction  of  Presbytery,  the  following 
words :  — 

{First  Side  of  the  Die.) 

ROBERT  GLENN: 

A  MINISTER  OF  JESUS  CHRIST,  AKD  FOR  TWEN'TY-FIVE  TEARS 
PASTOR  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  MILL  CREEK. 

{Second  Side.') 

Born  March  2,  1802, 
Died  Sept.  6,  1857, 

"  HE    GIVETH  his  beloved  SLEEP.  " 

Ps.  cxxvii.  2. 


328  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(Third  Side.) 

THEY  THAT  TURN  MANY  TO  RIGHTEOUSNESS 
SHALL,  SHINE  AS  THE  STARS,  FOREVER  AND  EVER. 

Dan.  xii.  3. 
{Fourth  Side.) 

HE  LOVED  TO  PREACH  CHRIST, 

AND  WITH  A  BURNING  ZEAL  FOR  SOULS, 

HE  WORE  HIMSELF  OUT  IN  THE 

master's  SERVICE. 

Mr.  Glenn  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Rebecca  "WycofF,  of  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  with  whom 
he  lived  fifteen  years,  when  she  was  called  away  from 
earth.  By  her  he  had  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 
One  of  these  sons,  Samuel  M.,  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  afterwards 
ordained  and  installed  within  the  bounds  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Columbus.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Mary 
Ann  McCracken,  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  Mill 
Creek,  and  daughter  of  one  of  his  elders.  She  died 
eight  months  after  marriage.  His  third  wife  was  Miss 
Harriet  Finley  of  Evansburg,  Crawford  County,  Pa., 
with  whom  he  lived  eight  years,  until  his  death,  and  by 
whom  he  had  three  children. 

(45.)  JOHN  McNAIR,  D.  D. 

1831-1867. 

John  McNair  was  the  third  son  of  Solomon  and 
Sarah  (Mc Masters)  McNair.  He  was  born  near  New- 
town, Bucks  County,  Pa.,  on  the  28th  day  of  May,  1806. 
His  mother  was  a  great  grand-daughter  of  a  French 
gentleman  named  De  la  Plaine,  who  emigrated  at  an 
early  day  to  New  Jersey.  From  him  Dr.  McNair  in- 
herited that   peculiar  vibratory  motion  of  the  eye,  so 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  329 

familiar  to  his  friends.  He  had  the  advantage  of  a 
careful  religious  training  in  his  childhood  and  youth,  and 
at  an  early  age  became  a  member  of  the  church.  He 
owed  much  to  his  mother,  who  was  eminently  pious  and 
a  lady  of  great  decision  of  character. 

He  received  his  academical  education  at  Newtown 
academy.  In  1825,  he  entered  the  Sophomore  Class  at 
Jefferson  College,  and  graduated  in  1828.  His  theo- 
logical studies  were  pursued  at  Princeton,  and  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  in  1831,  and  soon  after  set  out  to  Western 
Pennsylvania,  to  labor  as  a  domestic  missionary.  His 
first  field  was  in  Warren  County,  Pa.,  in  the  bounds  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  By  this  Presbytery  he  was 
ordained  as  an  evangelist  on  the  7th  day  of  November, 
1833.  Johnston  Eaton  (20)  preached  the  sermon,  and 
James  Alexander  (40)  delivered  the  charge.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  about  three  years, 
and  from  it  was  transferred  to  that  of  Vincennes  in  1836. 

Dr.  McNair  labored  as  an  evangelist  about  eight 
years  ;  one  year  in  Warren,  Pa.,  one  in  Fairmount  near 
Philadelphia,  one  in  Vincennes,  Iowa,  one  in  Milford, 
N.  J.,  one  in  Stroudsburg,  Pa.,  and  more  than  three 
in  the  Musconetcong  Valley,  N.  J.  His  first  permanent 
settlement  was  in  Lancaster  City,  Pa.,  where  he  con- 
tinued eleven  years.  He  was  obliged  to  resign  this 
charge  on  account  of  ill  health,  when  he  removed  to 
Clinton,  N.  J.,  amongst  his  wife's  relatives.  Here  he 
purchased  a  farm  and  commenced  farming  in  connection 
with  ministerial  labors,  very  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  his 
health.     He  preached  at  Clinton  for  six  or  eight  years. 

During  the  war,  he  received  a  commission  as  Chap- 
lain of  the  31st  Regiment  of  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
and  went  to  the  field  to  share  the  hardships  and  dan- 


330  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

gers  of  the  army.  He  was  a  model  chaplain  ;  always 
faithful,  always  at  the  post  of  duty,  and  always  earnest 
in  his  great  work.  When  his  army  labors  closed,  he 
returned  to  Lancaster,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  on  Sabbath,  January  27,  1867,  in  the 
sixty-first  year  of  his  age  and  the  thirtieth  of  his  minis- 
try. His  illness  was  very  brief  He  had  been  studying 
and  laborinor  hard  durinor  the  winter  and  overtaxed  his 
brain ;  in  this  condition  of  mind  and  body,  he  took 
a  violent  cold  whilst  laboring  durinor  the  "  week  of 
prayer."  This  brought  on  congestion  of  the  brain  and 
lungs,  and  in  one  week's  time  he  sunk  to  the  grave. 
His  remains  were  carried  to  Clarksville,  N.  J.,  and  laid 
to  rest  beside  those  of  his  son,  who  had  died  a  few 
months  before. 

An  appreciative  friend  thus  speaks  of  him  :  "  Those 
who  knew  him  best  will  ever  cherish  his  memory,  while 
they  do  but  simple  justice  to  the  characteristics  of  his 
head  and  his  heart.  Retiring  in  his  manner  and  de- 
portment, he  was  ever  cheerful  and  kind,  possessing 
however  a  firmness  and  integrity  of  purpose  which 
made  itself  felt  in  his  expressed  opinions,  together  with 
a  sincerity  unquestioned,  which  gave  a  high  tone  to  the 
doctrines  he  inculcated.  His  sermons  evinced  a  high 
order  of  talent ;  eloquent,  yet  plain  and  unaffected,- 
lucid  and  easily  comprehended.  As  a  logician  he  was 
unsurpassed,  and  he  was  consequently  an  able  debater. 
One  could  readily  '  Look  through  the  crystal  waters  of 
his  style,  down  to  the  golden  sands  of  his  thoughts,'  and 
this  it  was  that  rendered  his  discourses  so  interesting, 
truthful,  and  impressive.  His  arguments  were  ever 
clear  and  concise,  and  it  was  impossible  to  listen  to 
them  without  feeling  convinced  that  his  belief  was  sin- 
cere and  that  his  oj)inions  were  the  honest  and  firm 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  331 

convictions  of  a  man  who  loved  God  and  kept  his  com- 
mandments. 

'  His  lips  taught  virtue,  which  his  life  confess'd.' 
"As  a  husband  and  father,  he  was  what  might  have 
been  expected  from  so  pure  a  man." 

About  the  year  1838,  Dr.  McNair  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Susan  Adaline  Hunt,  daughter  of  Dr. 
William  A.  A.  Hunt,  and  grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Hol- 
loway  W.  Hunt.  They  had  two  children ;  the  elder  a 
daughter  named  Lizzie  (now  Mrs.  Lizzie  Day)  ;  the 
younger  a  son  named  Alfred,  who  was  killed  by  a  rail- 
road accident  but  a  few  months  before  his  father's  depar- 
ture. 

(47.)   NATHANIEL  WEST,  D.  D. 

1820-1864. 

Dr.  West  was  born  in  the  province  of  Ulster,  Ireland,^ 
although  to  all  intents  and  purposes  he  was  as  much 
a  Scotchman  as  though  he  had  taken  his  first  lease  of 
life  amid  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  Scotland.  It  is 
probable  that  his  early  life  was  passed  in  Scotland.  He 
was  born  in  the  year  1794.  He  was  at  one  time  a  chap- 
lain in  the  army.  His  theological  studies  were  pursued 
in  Edinburgh.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  the  year 
1820,  in  the  Lidependent  connection. 

He  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1834,  bearing  letters 
with  him  from  many  of  the  distinguished  ministers  of 
Scotland,  amongst  them  one  from  Dr.  Chalmers. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1834,  he  came  to  Mead- 
ville,  Pa.  He  had  been  taken  on  trial  as  a  foreign  min- 
ister, by  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and 
was  by  that  body  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
by  which  he  was  received  on  further  trial,  April  15, 
1  Wilson's  Presbyterian  Historical  Almanac. 


332  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

1835.  On  the  8th  of  October  following,  he  was  ap- 
proved and  accepted  as  a  member  of  Presbytery,  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  Synod.  The  action  was  after- 
wards approved  by  Synod.  Having  accepted  calls  to 
the  church  of  Meadville,  Pa.,  he  was  installed  on  the 
11th  day  of  May,  1836.  This  relation  continued  until 
the  26th  day  of  June,  1838,  when  at  his  own  request 
it  was  dissolved.  He  subsequently  labored  at  North 
East,  Pa.,  Monroe,  Mich.,  Pittsburgh,  McKeesport, 
Belmont,  and  Hestonville  (united).  Pa.  At  the  time  of 
his  death  he  was  the  senior  chaplain  of  the  Satterlee 
U.  S.  Hospital,  West  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  West  was  a  remarkable  man.  His  history  was 
crowded  with  incident  and  anecdote,  that  were  interest- 
ing and  almost  romantic.  He  was  endowed  by  nature 
with  a  stalwart  frame,  great  powers  of  endurance,  and 
an  energy  that  was  almost  invincible  under  ordinary 
difficulties.  In  mind,  he  was  gifted  above  the  ordi- 
nary range  of  men,  although  his  mental  characteristics 
were  peculiar.  His  powers  of  analysis  and  his  strength 
of  memory  were  astonishing.  His  knowledge  of  the 
Scriptures  was  such,  that  he  could  not  only  quote  at 
any  length  verbatim,  but  give  chapter  and  verse.  In  this 
respect  he  was  almost  literally  a  living  Concordance. 
He  was  accustomed  to  draw  from  the  Word  of  God  the 
rules  that  governed  his  daily  life  and  action,  so  that  at 
times  it  seemed  to  strangers  almost  as  though  he  used 
the  Word  of  God  in  too  light  and  trifling  a  manner. 
He  was  never  at  a  loss  for  Scripture  language  in  any 
reply  or  retort  he  thought  necessary  to  make.  On  oc- 
casion of  coming  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  and  before  he  had  become  acquainted  with  the 
members,  he  was  preaching  at  a  small  town  near  where 
two  of  the  brethren  were  stopping.     They  went  to  hear 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  333 

him,  and  after  the  service  was  conchided,  made  them- 
selves known  to  him.    His  instantaneous  remark  was  — 

"  Had  I  but  known  you  were  here,  sure  my  text 
should  have  been  Gen.  xlii.  16.  'By  the  life  of 
Pharoah,  surely  ye  are  spies.'  " 

During  his  chaplaincy  at  Satterlee  Hospital,  he  felt 
the  need  of  a  small  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  and  opened  a  subscription  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  one.  Among  others  he  called  upon 
an  acquaintance,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
with  the  remark  — 

"  Friend  John,  I  have  called  to  ask  thee  to  subscribe 
to  an  important  enterprise." 

"  Very  well,  friend  Nathaniel,  what  is  it  ?  "  The  Doc- 
tor proceeded  to  describe  the  need  of  a  chapel  for  the 
hospital,  when  his  friend  replied, — 

"  Well,  that  is  a  good  object,  and  I  think  I  will  sub- 
scribe twenty-five  dollars." 

"  But,  friend  John,  I  can  prove  to  thee  from  the 
Scriptures,  that  thee  should  subscribe  fifty." 

"  Well,  friend  Nathaniel,  if  thee  can  do  that  I  will 
even  subscribe  fifty." 

"  And  sure,  and  does  it  not  say  in  Luke  xvi.  6 : 
<  Take  thy  bill,  and  sit  down  quickly,  and  write  fifty.'  " 

As  a  preacher  Dr.  West  was  original,  fluent,  and 
eminently  Scriptural.  His  divisions  were  usually  text- 
ual, and  drawn  out  in  the  old  style  of  many  divisions 
and  sub-divisions,  yet  all  based  upon  the  text  and  rigidly 
drawn  from  it.  In  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures,  in 
every  tree  and  shrub,  in  every  nail  and  stone  of  the 
Temple,  he  saw  something  that  pointed  to  the  gospel 
and  the  work  of  Christ.  He  was  an  eminently  instruc- 
tive preacher,  bringing  from  his  treasure  things  new  and 
old. 


334  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

He  published  many  sermons  and  tracts.  The  "  Anal- 
ysis of  the  Bible  "  was,  however,  his  great  work.  Al- 
though based  on  the  work  of  Talbot,  yet  the  work  of 
compiling  and  arranging  it  for  the  press  was  herculean. 

At  the  division  of  the  Church  in  1838,  Dr.  West  went 
with  the  New  School,  but  after  the  lapse  of  some  ten 
or  twelve  years  became  connected  with  the  Old  School, 

His  disease  was  paralysis.  He  died  at  Philadelphia, 
on  the  2d  day  of  September,  1864,  in  the  seventieth 
year  of  his  age  and  the  forty-fourth  of  his  ministry. 
His  remains  rest  in  the  Oakland  Cemetery. 

(53.)  CHARLES   DANFORTH. 

1829-1867. 

Charles  Danforth,  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Lucy 
(Auger)  Danforth,  was  born  at  Rupert,  Bennington 
County,  Vermont,  on  the  23d  day  of  August,  1800. 
His  father  was  son  of  Jonathan  Danforth,  of  Hardwick, 
Mass.  His  mother,  Lucy  Auger,  was  a  native  of  New 
Haven,  Conn.  He  was  fitted  for  college  by  Rev.  Moses 
Hallock,  of  Plainfield,  Mass.  He  graduated  at  Wil- 
liams College  in  1826. 

His  was  a  life  of  struggles  and  vicissitudes.  With  a 
desire  to  work  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  for  the  good 
of  souls,  he  found  the  way  often  full  of  obstacles  and 
sore  discouragements.  There  was  to  his  inner  ear  the 
voice,  "  Go  work  to-day  in  my  vineyard,"  and  the  dis- 
couraging thought,  that  weakness  of  constitution  and 
narrowness  of  means  would  be  in  his  way  ;  so  he  pressed 
on  in  study  and  resolution,  possibly  one  of  the  martyrs 
of  the  church  militant. 

His  theological  education  was  obtained  at  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary,  where  he  was  licensed  to  preach 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  335 

the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga,  in  1829  ;  and, 
at  the  same  meeting,  ordained  to  do  the  Avork  of  an 
evangelist.  He  soon  after  went  out  to  labor  in  the 
States  of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  He  afterwards  labored 
several  years  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbyteries  of 
Miami  and  Chilicothe.  On  the  11th  of  April,  1838,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  re- 
moved from  its  bounds  in  1840.  He  labored  for  a  time 
in  Springfield,  Pa. 

In  April,  1830,  Mr.  Danforth  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Cornelia  F.  Sadd,  daughter  of  Harry  Sadd, 
of  Austinburg,  Ohio.  They  have  had  five  children,  three 
daughters  and  two  sons.  The  second  daughter  went 
as  a  missionary  to  Africa,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Mendi  Mission.  Whilst  there  she  became  the  wife  of 
Rev.  S.  J.  Whiton,  of  the  same  mission.  After  labor- 
ing a  little  more  than  a  year  in  that  benighted  land, 
she  was  called  to  rest  in  Jesus.  Her  departure  was 
greatly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  her.  INEr.  Danforth 
adhered  to  the  New  School  branch  at  the  division. 

During  the  last  years  of  Mr.  Danforth's  life,  he 
suffered  greatly  from  ill  health.  In  fact,  for  several 
years  he  had  no  pastoral  charge,  but  resided  at  Ober- 
lin,  Ohio,  preaching  occasionally  as  opportunity  offered 
and  strength  permitted.  In  the  spring  of  1867,  he  was 
greatly  afflicted  with  lameness,  and  other  symptoms  of 
failing  health.  His  liver  became  complicated  with  dis- 
ease of  the  lungs,  when  he  rapidly  sunk.  He  died  at 
Oberlln,  Ohio,  on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1867,  in  the 
sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  the  thirty-eighth  of 
his  ministry. 

In  the  last  weeks  of  his  life,  he  made  a  thorough  re- 
examination of  his  hope,  and  felt  that  he  could  trust 
all  in  Christ.     The  Pock  seemed  firmer  under  his  feet, 


336  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

and  he  could  trust  confidently  in  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ.     And  to  the  last  Christ  was  with  him,  sustain- 
ing, comforting,  and  cheering  him,  until  he  went  up  to  be 
"  Forever  with  the  Lord." 

(66.)  JOHN   LIMBER. 

1843-1849. 

John  Limber  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Long) 
Limber,  and  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  on  the 
22d  day  of  April,  1814.  Both  his  father's  and  mother's 
families  came  from  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  and 
settled  in  Crawford  County,  about  the  year  1795.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  but  four  years  of  age.  The 
family  was  then  broken  up,  and  John  was  raised  amongst 
his  friends  until  the  age  of  fourteen,  when  he  was  sent 
to  Meadville,  to  learn  a  mechanical  occupation.  Whilst 
at  his  trade,  with  other  boys  of  his  age,  he  formed 
a  literary  society  for  mutual  improvement ;  and  as  he 
grew  older,  manifested  a  very  earnest  desire  for  a  better 
education  than  he  had  yet  been  able  to  obtain.  Through 
the  influence  of  friends  he  was  released  from  his  ap- 
prenticeship, when  he  went  to  Greenville,  Pa.,  worked 
at  his  trade,  and  studied  with  Rev.  James  Alexander 
(40),  who  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  that  place. 
Whilst  there  he  made  a  profession  of  religion.  From 
this  place  he  went  to  Zelienople,  Pa.,  and  pursued  his 
studies  under  great  difficulties,  but  with  considerable 
success.  He  was  also  tutor  in  the  family  of  Judge 
Derickson,  at  Meadville,  Pa.  Studying  at  the  same 
time  with  Rev.  Nathaniel  West  (47),  pastor  of  the 
church  there.  He  also  studied  for  a  time  at  Alleghany 
College.  Finally  he  became  a  student  at  Amherst 
College,  Mass.,  pursuing  his  studies  under  great   and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  38T 

pressing  difficulties,  yet*  with  a  calm  heroism  that  was 
well-nigh  sublime.  Sometimes  he  would  teach  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  college,  and  recruit  his  finances. 
On  one  occasion,  he  went  to  North  Carolina  and  taught 
for  a  time.  He  finally  graduated.  Afler  this  he  taught 
for  a  time  in  the  academies  of  Meadville  and  Erie, 
meanwhile  pursuing  his  theological  studies  privately. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  on  the  4th  day  of  October,  1843.  For  a 
year  or  two,  he  was  engaged  in  preaching  in  vacant 
churches  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  those  who  heard  him.  But  there  was  a 
nervous  diffidence  that  oppressed  him  like  a  great 
shadow  resting  upon  his  heart,  and  often  filling  him  with 
distress  amounting  to  agony.  Under  this  feeling  of  op- 
pression, he  would  sometimes  walk  his  room  wringing 
his  hands  in  his  distress,  yet  he  felt  at  the  same  time, 
"  Woe  is  me,  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel." 

In  the  autumn  of  1844,  he  was  designated  by  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  as  a  mission- 
ary to  the  Indians.  In  view  of  this,  he  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  P^rie,  on  the  16th  day  of  October, 
1844.  John  V.  Reynolds  (56)  preached  on  the  occa- 
sion, David  Waggoner  (54)  presided,  and  Cyrus  Dick- 
son (58)  delivered  the  charge  to  the  missionary. 

He  labored  amongst  the  Indians  for  a  year  or  two, 
and  then  went  as  a  missionary  to  Texas.  He  preached 
at  Houston,  Galveston,  Austin,  and  Washington.  He 
finally  concluded  to  settle  at  Washington,  Texas,  and 
was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  that  of 
Brazos,  on  the  25th  day  of  April,  1846. 

Previous  to  going  to  the   Indian  country,  he  had 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Emily  S.  Messenger,  of 
Wrentham,  Mass.,  but  who  was  then  teaching  at  Mead- 
22 


338  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

ville,  Pa.  To  this  lady,  Mr.  Limber  was  married  on  the 
18th  day  of  January,  1849.  The  marriage  took  place 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  Miss  Messenger  was  then 
teaching.  The  same  day  they  left  on  board  a  steam- 
boat for  New  Orleans.  On  the  29th  of  January,  the 
boat  lay  to  at  the  Lafayette  landing.  Then  he  went 
down  to  the  city,  took  passage  on  another  boat  to  Texas, 
and  returned  to  his  wife.  After  tea,  and  about  dark, 
he  remarked  that  he  wished  to  procure  a  few  Bibles  to 
take  with  him,  took  an  omnibus,  went  down  to  the  city. 
At  the  Bible  House  he  purchased  his  books,  placed 
them  in  a  satchel,  and  finding  that  the  carriages  had 
ceased  running,  started  to  walk  to  the  boat,  a  distance 
of  two  miles,  through  the  dark  and  stormy  night.  Here 
his  record  ceases.  He  never  returned  to  the  boat. 
Alone  in  that  dark,  tempestuous  night,  and  in  that  city 
of  great  wickedness,  he  disappeared.  Who  shall  finish 
the  record  ?  Who  tell  how  he  passed  away  ?  The 
completed  history  will  be  found  only  in  God's  great 
book  above.  Whose  voice  did  he  hear  ?  That  of  the 
midnight  robber  ?  that  of  the  wildly  surging  river  ?  Did 
some  "  horror  of  great  darkness  "  envelop  him  as  in  a 
cloud  from  which  there  was  no  escape  ?  Great  are  the 
mysteries  of  time.     Eternity  will  reveal  them  all. 

The  stricken,  widowed  wife  went  on  to  Texas,  and 
resumed  her  old  employment.  From  boyhood,  Mr. 
Limber  was  of  a  quiet,  shrinking  temperament,  fond  of 
reading,  seldom  playing,  most  inoffensive  in  his  disposi- 
tion, and  exemplary  in  his  life.  After  the  age  of  fifteen, 
his  burning  desire  was  to  receive  a  liberal  education, 
and  after  all  his  difficulties,  he  accomplished  this,  be- 
coming a  good,  critical  scholar. 

The  following  tribute,  written  at  the  time  of  his  dis- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  339 

appearance,  by  one  ^  who  knew  him  well,  is  so  beautiful 
and  just,  that  it  is  here  reproduced  :  "  He  was  gentle  as 
a  woman,  tender  and  kind  as  a  mother,  generous  almost 
to  a  fault,  often  to  his  own  injury,  sympathetic  as  a  sis- 
ter. His  heart  was  deep  as  woman's,  and  he  added  the 
mental  qualities  and  discipline  and  worth  of  a  man. 
He  covered  up  great  stores  of  wealth,  that  none  but  his 
intimate  friends  ever  knew,  under  a  modesty  and  diffi- 
dence very  rare.  His  life  was  full  of  troubles.  Poor 
from  a  boy,  he  struggled  without  aid  through  school  and 
college,  and  became  a  superior  scholar.  His  fears  were 
great,  and  he  was  doomed  to  a  constant  strife.  He  was 
driven  to  and  fro,  and  tossed  by  buffetings.  He  came, 
one  scarcely  knew  whence,  nor  whither,  how,  nor  where. 
He  would  hail  you  from  Brokenstraw,  from  the  Creek 
Indians,  from  Texas.  He  married,  and  has  gone,  none 
knows  how,  nor  under  what  circumstances.  As  a  mist 
he  has  faded  from  our  sight." 

(68.)  ALEXANDER  BOYD. 

1825-1864. 

Alexander  Boyd  was  the  son  of  William  and  Mar- 
garet (McCann)  Boyd,  and  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Dublin,  Ireland,  about  the  year  1796.  His  father  was 
a  merchant  of  Armagh,  Ireland,  but  about  the  year 
1825,  removed  to  Paisley,  Scotland.  Alexander  Boyd 
had  one  brother  named  William,  a  printer,  and  two  sis- 
ters, who  married  and  settled  in  Scotland. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  taken  in  childhood, 
and  raised  by  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  pious  and  de- 
voted man.  He  was  designed  for  the  ministry ;  and 
after  some  preparatory  education,  was  sent  to  Queen's 
1  Rev.  J.  V.  Reynolds,  D.D. 


340  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 

College,  Belfast.  Dr.  Edgar  was  at  that  time  a  pro- 
fessor, and  the  late  Dr.  Edgar,  son  of  the  professor,  was 
his  fellow-student.  He  completed  his  course  about  the 
year  1825,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegan,  now  Londonderry.  Be- 
fore the  Union,  he  was  a  seceder. 

Intending  to  emigrate  to  America,  he  declined  all 
calls  to  a  pastoral  settlement,  although  he  remained 
some  years,  preaching  in  various  vacant  churches  as 
opportunity  offered.  Amongst  other  places,  he  supplied 
the  congregation  of  Stranorlar,  near  his  grandfather's. 

In  April,  1829,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ann  Dickey,  daughter  of  Rev.  Wm.  Dickey,  of  Car- 
nom,  Ireland,  at  which  place  her  brother.  Rev.  John 
Dickey,  is  now  settled,  as  successor  to  his  father.  Her 
father's  ministry  in  that  congregation  extended  over  a 
period  of  fifty  years.  Her  brother.  Rev.  Joseph  Dickey, 
is  settled  at  Kilrea,  in  the  County  of  Londonderry,  Ire- 
land, and  her  remaining  brother  Robert,  is  a  ruling 
elder  in  the  U.  P.  Church,  at  Greenville,  Pa. 

Mr.  Boyd  emigrated  to  America  in  the  year  1831, 
and  landed  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  tarried  for  a  time, 
but  declined  all  overtures  looking  toward  a  settlement, 
as  he  wished  to  explore  the  country,  and  particularly  to 
visit  the  great  West.  Soon  after  this,  he  removed  to 
Alleghany  County,  and  spent  some  time  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany.  He  was,  at 
this  time,  in  connection  with  the  Associate  Presbyterian 
Church.  About  the  year  1835,  he  accepted  calls  to  the 
Associate  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Castle,  Pa., 
where  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Shenango.  He  also  preached  a  portion 
of   his  time  at  Wilmington  and  Mount   Prospect,  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  341 

connection  with  New  Castle.  He  continued  in  these 
charges  some  ten  years. 

His  views  having  changed  in  some  matters,  Mr. 
Boyd  proposed  changing  his  ecclesiastical  relation,  and 
on  the  22d  day  of  October,  1845,  he  was  received  as  a 
member  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  From  this  he 
passed  by  certificate  to  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville. 

He  preached  for  a  time  at  Beech  Woods,  but  declin- 
ing a  call  there,  passed  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Huntington,  and  became  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Fruit  Hill  and  Mount  Pleasant.  In  this  charge  he 
labored  pleasantly  and  successfully  for  five  or  six  years. 
It  was  with  great  reluctance  that  the  people  of  these 
congregations  consented  to  part  with  him ;  but  he  felt 
that  there  were  reasons  why  he  should  remove  further 
westward.  He  removed  to  the  State  of  Iowa  about  the 
year  1853,  and  settled  in  Solon,  of  which  church  he 
was  elected  pastor.  After  laboring  here  for  some  years, 
he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge,  though  he  labored  in 
various  places  in  the  region  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  Newport  Centre,  Iowa,  December  9,  1864,  in 
the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age  and  the  thirty-ninth  of 
his  ministry.  He  left  a  widow  and  six  children,  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  From  the  beginning  of  his 
last  illness,  he  had  no  hope  or  desire  of  recovery,  but 
was  patient  and  resigned,  and  longed  to  depart  and  be 
with  Christ. 

(70.)  JOHN  KINKEAD   CORNYN. 

1845-1853. 

John  K.  Cornyn  was  a  native  of  Cumberland 
County,  Pa.  He  was  born  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  on  the  16th 
day  of  August,  1815.     His  earlier  life  was  spent  in  the 


342  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

acquisition  and  practice  of  a  mechanical  trade.  He 
was  a  student  of  Jefferson  College,  where  he  graduated 
in  the  autumn  of  1842.  Soon  after  graduation,  he  be- 
came a  student  of  theology  in  the  Western  Theological 
Seminary.  Here  he  remained  the  full  term  of  three 
years,  when  he  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alle- 
ghany on  the  3d  day  of  April,  1845. 

For  two  years  after  his  licensure,  he  was  employed  in 
supplying  vacant  churches  in  the  bounds  of  Alleghany 
and  neighboring  presbyteries,  having  his  head-quarters 
mainly  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  which  he 
considered  as  his  home.  About  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1847,  he  came  into  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  where  he  preached  to  the  congregations  of 
Sturgeonville,  Girard,  and  Harbor  Creek.  Having  ac- 
cepted calls  from  these  congregations,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  their  pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
on  the  11th  day  of  August,  1847.  In  these  services, 
Rev.  Alexander  Cunningham  (65)  preached  the  ser- 
mon. Rev.  Robert  Glenn  presided,  Rev.  Cyrus  Dickson 
(58)  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  James 
Coulter  (62)  the  charge  to  the  people. 

On  the  4th  day  of  April,  1850,  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  between  Mr.  Cornyn  and  the  congrega- 
tions of  Girard  and  Harbor  Creek,  and  on  June  19, 
1850,  between  him  and  Sturgeonville. 

During  the  interval  of  a  year,  Mr.  Cornyn  was  em- 
ployed in  preaching  in  vacant  churches,  when,  at  his 
own  request,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  with  the  view  of  connecting  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Wyoming.  After  this,  Mr.  Cornyn  la- 
bored for  a  time  in  Troy,  Pa.,  but  failing  health  soon 
obliged  him  to  retire  from  the  active  duties  of  the  min- 
istry.    His  disease  developed  into  consumption,  and  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  343 

lingered  until  the  22d  day  of  December,  1853,  when  he 
passed  away  from  earth. 

On  the  21st  day  of  March,  1848,  Mr.  Cornyn  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Frost,  who,  with 
two  or  three  children,  still  survives  him. 

During  his  period  of  ill  health,  Mr.  Cornyn  prepared 
and  published  a  work  called  "  Dick  Wilson,  or  the 
Rumseller's  Victim,"  that  was  designed  to  illustrate  the 
evils  of  intemperance.  There  were  many  noble  traits  in 
his  character.  Although  not  possessing  that  just  balance 
that  constitutes  the  fully  rounded  outline  of  a  desirable 
character,  he  was  yet  generous,  sympathizing,  and  kind. 
With  an  exuberant  flow  of  beautiful  language,  and  nice 
taste  in  the  choice  of  words,  he  was  well  calculated  to 
be  an  attractive  public  speaker.  Yet  withal  there  was  a 
sluggishness  of  mind  that  kept  him  back  from  the  high- 
est excellence  in  his  profession. 

(71.)  LEWIS   W.   WILLIAMS. 

1840-1857. 

Lewis  W.  Williams  was  descended  from  an  old 
Pennsylvania  family.  He  was  the  son  of  Hudson  and 
Agnes  (Gray)  Williams.  The  name  of  his  paternal 
grandfather  was  Lewis  Williams,  that  of  his  maternal 
grandfather,  William  Gray.  He  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  a  son  and  daughter  being  older,  and  a 
son  and  daughter  younger  than  himself.  His  father 
was  a  brother  of  the  late  Rev.  Joshua  Williams,  D.  D., 
of  Newville,  Pa. 

Lewis  W.  Williams  was  born  at  Bellefonte,  Centre 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  29th  day  of  January,  1807.  Dur- 
ing his  infancy,  his  parents  removed  from  Bellefonte  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Milton,  Pa.     Here  his  father  died 


344  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

in  March,  1814.  His  mother  survived  until  March  27, 
1850.  Lewis  made  a  profession  of  rehgion  in  his  nine- 
teenth year,  and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Milton. 

The  matter  of  the  gospel  ministry  seems  to  have  oc- 
cupied his  mind  even  before  he  made  a  public  profession 
of  religion.  An  older  brother  writes :  "  To  my  certain 
knowledge,  it  was  his  earnest  wish,  early  in  life,  that 
Providence  would  open  up  the  way  for  his  receiving  an 
education.  From  the  time  he  commenced  his  studies, 
his  mind  was  entirely  set  on  preaching  the  gospel." 

The  means  of  accomplishing  this  desire  were  fur- 
nished by  his  brothers.  After  spending  a  number  of 
years  in  teaching  in  the  district  schools,  he  commenced 
his  classical  studies  in  the  Milton  Academy.  Here  he 
prepared  for  the  sophomore  class,  which  he  entered  at 
Princeton  College,  in  the  fall  of  1833.  He  was  graduated 
in  1836,  standing,  in  point  of  scholarship,  among  the 
first  in  his  class.  His  theological  studies  were  pursued 
in  the  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Phil- 
adelphia, on  the  21st  day  of  April,  1840. 

His  first  pastoral  charge  was  at  Indiana,  Pa.  The 
opening  to  that  field  seemed  providential.  He  had 
been  advised  to  spend  a  year  in  travelling  as  a  mission- 
ary, for  the  purpose  of  recuperating  his  health,  and  was 
putting  the  advice  to  the  practical  test,  when  he  stopped 
at  Indiana  to  spend  the  Sabbath.  The  Presbyterian 
church  at  that  place  being  vacant,  he  was  invited  to 
preach.  He  did  so,  and  the  congregation  were  so  fa- 
vorably impressed  in  regard  to  him,  that  they  prevailed 
on  him  to  abandon  the  idea  of  travelling  and  remain 
with  them.  The  way  seemed  so  plain,  that  their  call 
was  accepted,  and  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  345 

of  Blairsville,  on  the  12th  day  of  May,  1841,  as  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Indiana,  Pa. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  following  winter,  his 
health  became  so  much  enfeebled  that  he  was  prevailed 
upon  to  take  a  tour  to  the  South.  His  health  not  im- 
proving materially,  his  stay  was  protracted,  and  some 
misunderstanding  having  arisen,  his  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved.  On  his  return  to  Pennsylvania,  the  at- 
tachment was  so  strong  between  Mr.  Williams  and  his 
people,  that  new  calls  were  prepared  for  him.  These 
calls  were  accepted,  and  on  the  12th  day  of  July,  1843, 
he  was  reinstalled. 

But  the  new  relation  was  not  as  pleasant  as  he  had 
anticipated.  His  prospects  of  usefulness  did  not  seem 
as  good  as  before.  On  the  4th  day  of  March,  1844,  at 
his  own  request,  the  pastoral  relation  was  again  dis- 
solved. This  was  perhaps  an  imprudent  step.  It  is 
said  that  Mr.  Williams  ever  afterwards  regretted  it 
himself 

About  this  time  he  was  tendered  a  professorship  in 
Washington  College,  Tennessee.  This  professorship 
was  accepted,  and  he  at  once  entered  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  its  duties. 

On  the  20th  day  of  October,  1844,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  daughter  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Thompson  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Owing  chiefly  to  the  delicate  health  of  his  wife,  he 
resigned  his  professorship  and  returned  to  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  in  the  fall  of  1845,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  January 
following,  was  called  to  mourn  over  the  early  death  of 
his  wife.  She  died  at  Pittsburgh,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter,  who  afterwards  received  her  own  name  — 
Mary  Thompson. 

During  the  summer  following,  he  received  an  in  vita- 


346  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

tion  to  visit  Greenville,  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on  the  27th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1847,  and  labored  in  the  congregation  of  Greenville 
as  a  stated  supply  for  about  two  years. 

The  summer  of  1848  was  spent  in  supplying  the 
churches  of  Rock  Island  and  Camden,  111. 

On  the  20th  February,  1849,  he  was  again  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Larimore,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Larimore,  Esq.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

His  next  field  of  labor  was  in  Holidaysburg,  Pa., 
where,  assisted  by  his  wife,  who  was  an  accomplished 
and  successful  teacher,  he  opened  a  male  and  female 
academy,  which  was  carried  forward  with  encouraging 
success  for  about  two  years.  During  this  time  he 
preached  every  third  vSabbath  at  Martinsburg,  a  neigh- 
boring village. 

But  teaching,  although  to  his  taste,  and  pursued  with 
profit,  was  not  preaching  the  gospel,  and  he  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  must  give  up  teaching  at  any  sacrifice, 
even  though  but  a  bare  pittance  might  be  the  conse- 
quence. It  was  the  soul  cry  of  the  Apostle  repeated, 
"  Woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the  gospel." 

In  the  fall  of  1851,  he  received  and  accepted  calls 
from  the  united  congregations  of  Lower  Path  Valley 
and  Burnt  Cabins,  in  the  Presb}tery  of  Carlisle,  where 
he  was  installed  the  following  summer.  He  had  pre- 
viously been  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on 
the  26th  day  of  June,  1849,  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hun- 
tington. In  this  new  charge  he  continued  for  three 
years  and  a  half,  laboring  faithfully  and  earnestly,  and 
with  much  acceptance. 

In  the  spring  of  1855,  he  resigned  his  pastoral  charge, 
and  accepted  calls  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  united 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  34T 

congregations  of  Landisburg,  Center,  and  Upper,  in 
Perry  County,  Pa.  This  was  his  last  charge.  Here  he 
was  greatly  encouraged  by  the  promises  of  usefulness 
that  opened  before  him,  and  commenced  his  labors  with 
great  zeal  and  energy.  After  the  death  of  a  beloved 
little  son  in  October,  1856,  he  was  greatly  depressed 
and  discouraged,  and  in  this  state  of  mind,  went  to  the 
Upper  church  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper.  The 
means  of  grace  were  accompanied  by  the  gracious  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  a  revival  of  religion 
was  commenced  that  extended  throughout  his  entire 
charge.  The  services  were  protracted  for  ten  days. 
Then  followed  the  usual  exercises  at  Center,  and  the 
following  week  appointments  were  made  for  Landis- 
burg. These  labors  were  a  severe  tax  on  his  physical 
system,  but  they  greatly  refreshed  his  own  soul.  He 
labored  not  only  in  his  own  charges,  but  assisted  his 
brethren  in  other  churches  in  the  Presbytery.  It  is 
believed  that  his  exhausting  labors,  performed  under 
such  exciting  circumstances,  during  that  winter,  were 
the  principal  cause  of  the  giving  way  of  his  physical 
constitution  and  his  rapid  decline,  the  following  spring. 

His  last  labor  in  the  sanctuary  was  performed  Sab- 
bath, April  26,  when  he  preached  three  times,  at  differ- 
ent places.  His  last  text  was  peculiarly  fitting  for  the 
closing  work  of  the  ministry,  *'  Without  holiness  no 
man  shall  see  the  Lord."  His  discourse  from  these 
words  was  deeply  solemn  and  impressive. 

He  returned  home  on  Monday  evening  with  a  severe 
cold  and  sick  headache.  On  Tuesday  evening  a  physi- 
cian was  called,  but  for  several  days  his  symptoms 
were  not  considered  alarming.  But  there  was  a  voice 
that  warned  him  that  his  life  was  ebbing.  On  the  next 
Sabbath  he  remarked  to  his  wife,  "  My  feelings  are  not 


348  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

very  fervent,  but  my  faith  is  strong.  I  have  no  right- 
eousness of  my  own  to  recommend  me  to  the  favor  of 
God  ;  but  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  that  is  far  better. 
I  have  a  Saviour !  His  righteousness  will  give  me  a 
sure  passport.  How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds  ! 
Jesus  my  Saviour  !  " 

On  Tuesday  he  was  informed  by  his  physician  that 
he  could  not  recover.  "  Yes,  yes,"  he  replied,  "  the 
Lord's  will  be  done."  The  next  evenincr,  beincr  that  of 
the  prayer-meeting,  he  remarked  to  a  gentleman  pres- 
ent, "  Remember  your  pastor  in  your  prayers.  He  has 
often  prayed  for  you ;  now  you  must  pray  for  him."  He 
would  frequently  sa}^  "  My  work  is  done.  His  service 
was  my  delight ;  but  the  Lord  has  nothing  more  for  me 
to  do.  O  that  I  could  sing  his  praise  ;  but  my  harp  is 
all  unstrung  1  " 

His  lips  were  moving  until  almost  the  last.  He 
whispered  of  those  who  had  gone  before,  that  he  ex- 
pected soon  to  meet,  and  of  those  he  was  about  to  leave 
behind,  with  words  of  comfort  for  their  cheer  ;  and  then 
the  great  work  occupied  his  mind,  —  "  an  outpouring 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,"  he  feebly  articulated,  and  then 
closed  his  lips,  until  they  were  to  be  opened  in  singing 
the  "  new  song  "  in  the  upper  sanctuary. 

He  died  of  pneumonia,  on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1857, 
in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age  and  seventeenth  of  his 
ministry.  His  remains  rest  in  the  little  cemetery  of 
the  Center  church. 

Mr.  Williams  left  a  widow  and  four  children.  Mary 
T.,  daughter  of  his  first  wife,  and  three  little  boys,  sons 
of  his  second  wife,  —  Louis  L.,  Hudson  R.,  and  Walter 
Lowrie. 

He  was  of  a  nervous,  sanguine  temperament,  subject 
at  times  to  great  depression  of  spirits,  but  always  act- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  349 

ive  and  diligent  in  labor  for  Christ's  cause.  He  was  a 
fine  writer,  and  always  commanded  attention  in  the  pul- 
pit, not  only  for  the  substance  of  the  truth  uttered,  but 
for  the  manner  of  its  delivery.  His  last  days  were  his 
best  days,  for  God  set  the  seal  of  his  Spirit  to  his  work, 
and  he  passed  away  just  at  the  close  of  a  most  precious 
revival. 

(72.)  LEMUEL   P.   BATES. 

1820-1860. 

Lemuel  P.  Bates  was  the  son  of  Lemuel  and  Lucy 
(Wait)  Bates.  He  was  born  at  Blandford,  Mass.,  in 
December,  1791.  His  parents  removed  to  Southamp- 
ton, Mass.,  when  he  was  quite  young.  His  classical 
course  was  completed  at  Williams  College,  Mass.,  his 
theological  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where  he  graduated  in 
1822.  In  1820,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the  Hampshire  Congregational  Association  of  Massa- 
chusetts. In  the  year  1823,  he  was  ordained  by  a  coun- 
cil of  Congregational  ministers  as  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Whately  and  Templeton,  Mass. 

In  1846,  he  removed  to  the  West  and  became  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Pontiac,  Michigan,  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Michigan.  After 
laboring  here  for  about  one  year,  he  went  to  Crawford 
Coimty,  Pennsylvania,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1848, 
on  certificate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Michigan.  In 
this  Presbytery  he  became  stated  supply  of  the  churches 
of  Conneautville  and  Harmonsburg.  This  relation 
continued  until  1850.  On  the  11th  day  of  September, 
of  that  year  he  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie  to  connect  himself  with  the  Presbytery  of  Michigan. 


350  PRESBYTERY  OF    ERIE. 

Sometime  after  this,  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon,  and  labored  in  Utica,  Ohio. 
After  this  he  removed  with  some  relatives  to  Illinois, 
and  was  for  some  time  without  charge,  yet  frequently 
preached  as  opportunity  offered.  In  1859,  he  took 
charge  of  the  church  at  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  laboring  at  the  time  of  his  last  illness. 

In  1823,  Mr.  Bates  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Eunice  Edwards,  daughter  of  Deacon  Elisha  Edwards 
of  Southampton,  Mass.  Mrs.  Bates  died  at  Southamp- 
ton in  1854.     They  had  no  children. 

Mr.  Bates  excelled  as  a  preacher.  His  theology  was 
that  of  the  older  New  England  divines,  and  to  this  he 
adhered  to  the  last.  He  was  a  fine  writer,  and  gen- 
erally had  his  sermons  wrought  out  to  a  great  degree  of 
elegance.  His  ministry  was  successful,  and  many  revi- 
vals occurred  during  his  pastoral  labors. 

In  his  outward  appearance  there  was  much  to  attract 
the  attention.  He  possessed  great  dignity  of  manners, 
rather  solemn  countenance,  and  mild  expressive  eye. 
He  was  withal  of  a  cheerful,  even  genial  disposition, 
and  at  all  times  a  most  welcome  guest.  He  was  remark- 
able for  physical  endurance.  During  his  labors  at  Ed- 
wardsville, he  spent  much  of  his  time  at  the  home  of  his 
nephew.  Rev.  Dr.  Taylor  of  Alton,  Illinois.  He  would 
frequently  walk  the  whole  distance,  twelve  miles,  and 
still  not  complain  of  fatigue.  An  incident,  illustrating 
his  physical  strength  and  jovial,  sunshiny  disposition, 
is  related  by  his  friends.  A  young  minister  who  was  in 
the  pulpit  with  him  had  prayed  for  the  "  aged  brother, 
now  in  the  decline  of  life  "  Some  allusion  being  after- 
wards made  to  it,  Mr.  Bates  replied,  "  I  could  whip  him 
any  day." 
In  regard  to  his  last  days  upon  earth,  one  ^  who  watched 
1  Mrs.  C.  H.  Taylor. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  351 

over  him  to  the  last  is  best  qualified  to  speak :  "  His 
powers  of  physical  endurance  were  remarkable,  and 
when  his  last  illness  came  upon  him,  he  was  wholly  in- 
disposed to  yield  to  it ;  and  did  not  give  up  the  hope 
and  expectation  of  recovery,  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
A  partial  unconsciousness  came  upon  him  unawares, 
and  when  aroused  to  answer  an  inquiry  whether  Jesus 
was  near,  he  replied  humbly  but  hopefully.  He  sang 
no  note  of  triumph.  As  the  spirit  left  the  body,  those 
of  us  who  stood  by  him  were  electrified  by  the  sudden 
illumination  of  his  face.  A  radiant  smile  broke  over 
every  feature,  as  if  a  vision  of  delights  unutterable 
had  opened  before  him,  and  we  felt  that  the  golden 
gates  were  opened,  and  he  had  heard  the  plaudit  — 
'  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant.'  " 

His  death  took  place  at  Alton,  Illinois,  of  fever  com- 
plicated with  other  diseases,  on  the  7th  day  of  March, 
1860,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  and  fortieth  of 
his  ministry.  The  same  loving  pen  quoted  above  re- 
lates further  :  "  We  have  erected  a  stone  to  his  memory 
in  the  cemetery  in  Alton,  where  his  body  lies.  On  it 
are  inscribed  these  familiar  and  appropriate  lines  :  — 

"  Servant  of  God  well  done  — 
Rest  from  thy  sweet  employ, 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 

(74.)  CHARLES  V.  STRUVE. 

Mr.  Struv^,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  a 
man  of  considerable  scholarship.  Soon  after  coming  to 
the  United  States,  he  became  connected  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church.  He  had  previously  been  a  minister  in  some 
of  the  German  churches  of  the  Fatherland.  He  was 
received  into  membership  of  the  Presbyterian  church 


352  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 

of  Franklin  in  1847,  and  on  the  23d  of  June,  1848,  he 
was  received  as  a  minister  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 
He  labored  for  a  time  amongst  the  Germans  in  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1849, 
removed  to  Saint  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  died  in  the  month 
of  October,  1849.     He  left  a  wife  and  several  children. 

(77.)   NATHANIEL   MARCUS   CRANE. 

1836-1859. 

Nathaniel  M.  Crane  was  the  son  of  Oliver  and 
Susannah  Crane,  and  was  born  in  West  Bloomfield, 
New  Jersey,  on  the  12th  day  of  December,  1805.  He 
was  the  child  of  pious  parents,  and  was  early  instructed 
in  the  truths  and  practice  of  religion.  He  was  designed 
for  a  tradesman  by  his  parents,  and  was  apprenticed  at 
the  age  of  fifteen.  Making  a  profession  of  religion 
soon  after  this,  his  mind  was  directed  to  the  ministry. 
He  devoted  himself  to  the  work  and  employed  the  little 
means  he  had  acquired  by  his  industry  in  quiet  prepar- 
ation for  it. 

Having  spent  two  years  in  Bloomfield  Academy,  he 
entered  Williams  College,  Mass.  Remaining  here  sev- 
eral sessions,  his  health  gave  way,  when  he  travelled 
westward,  and  finding  his  health  restored,  entered 
Washington  College,  Pa.,  where  he  graduated  in  1832. 
His  theological  studies  were  pursued  in  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  Alleghany,  Pa.,  and  at  Auburn, 
N.  Y.  During  the  progress  of  these  studies,  he  decided 
to  become  a  foreign  missionary.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Cayuga,  on 
the  13th  day  of  April,  1836,  and  on  the  6th  day  of  July 
following  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  as  a 
foreign  missionary. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  353 

Soon  after  this  he  was  married  to  Miss  Julia  A. 
Ostrander,  and  on  the  13th  day  of  November,  1836,  in 
company  with  six  other  missionaries  and  their  wives,  set 
sail  from  Boston,  to  Southern  India,  to  labor  amongst 
the  Hindoos.  He  was  under  the  care  of  the  American 
Board,  and  his  point  of  labor  Madura.  Here  he  con- 
tinued to  labor  for  upwards  of  seven  years,  until  his 
health  failed  under  the  enervating  influences  of  the 
climate.  His  physician  giving  it  as  his  opinion  that  he 
was  beyond  the  hope  of  recovery  in  that  climate,  he 
reluctantly  severed  his  connection  with  the  mission 
and  in  December,  1844,  set  sail  for  home.  He  landed 
in  Boston  early  in  May,  1845. 

After  spending  about  two  years  in  New  Jersey 
amongst  his  friends,  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
"Warren  County,  Pa.,  and  engaged  in  agriculture.  Con- 
tinuing in  this  avocation  for  about  two  years,  his  health 
was  so  far  restored  that  he  was  able  to  engage  in 
preaching.  On  the  26th  day  of  June,  1849,  he  was  re- 
ceived as  a  member  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and 
preached  as  a  stated  supply  to  the  congregations  of 
Sugar  Grove  and  Irvine.  Here  he  labored  for  six 
years,  with  great  self-denial,  and  in  the  face  of  many 
discouragements.  His  support  was  very  inadequate, 
and  the  field  one  that  would  have  severely  taxed  the 
energies  of  a  minister  in  full  health. 

On  the  27th  day  of  June,  1854,  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  and  connected  himself 
with  that  of  Clarion.  He  removed  his  family  to  Rei- 
mersburgh.  Clarion  County,  Pa.,  and  labored  in  the 
churches  of  Bethesda,  New  Bethlehem  and  Middle 
Creek.  Over  the  former  of  these  churches  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  in  1855,  serving  the  others  as  stated 
supply. 

23 


354  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

In  the  autumn  of  1857,  he  removed  to  the  West,  and 
spent  the  following  winter  in  Illinois.  The  next  spring 
he  removed  to  Indian  Town,  Tama  County,  Iowa.  This 
was  his  last  field  of  labor.  He  preached  here  for  eigh- 
teen months,  when  he  was  attacked  by  typhoid  fever, 
and  died  September  21,  1859,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year 
of  his  age,  and  twenty-fourth  of  his  ministry.  His  last 
words  were,  "  I  die  in  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ.  'Tis 
sweet  to  die  in  Jesus."  ^ 

Mr.  Crane  was  one  of  the  purest  of  men.  His  char- 
acter was  a  model  of  excellence  in  all  the  characteris- 
tics that  adorn  humanity.  There  was  a  meekness  and 
quietness  and  humility  about  him  that  won  the  hearts 
of  all  that  came  in  contact  with  him.  He  was  at  the 
same  time  dignified  in  person  and  polished  in  manners. 
He  was  throughout  his  whole  life  a  missionary.  In  the 
destitute  regions  of  Pennsylvania  and  on  the  prairies  of 
the  great  West,  he  was  a  missionary,  as  well  as  under 
the  burning  sun  of  India.  And  in  all  places,  and 
under  all  circumstances,  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
sincere  and  earnest  devotion  to  the  gospel  and  the  wel- 
fare of  his  fellow-men. 

In  person  Mr.  Crane  was  of  medium  stature,  com- 
plexion rather  dark,  yet  with  a  mild  blue  eye  that 
kindled  with  animation  in  conversation  and  in  public 
discourse.  He  was  not  fluent  in  discourse,  nor  was  he 
free  in  the  use  of  words  even  in  conversation ;  yet  he 
was  social,  friendly,  and  even  genial  as  a  companion. 

One  who  was  his  companion  on  the  ocean  voyage  and 
his  associate  for  six  years  in  the  Madura  mission,  and 
who  knew  him  most  intimately,  thus  speaks  of  him  :  ^ 
"  You  have  brought  to  my  attention  the  name  of  the 

1  Wilson's  Presbyterian  Histoi^cal  Almanac . 

2  Rev.  F.  De  W.  Ward,  D  D. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  355 

purest,  most  symmetrical,  and  most  excellent  of  men  : 
one  of  whom  it  is  difficult  to  speak  as  I  would,  without 
apparent  exaggeration.  My  acquaintance  with  Mr. 
Crane  covered  more  than  six  years,  during  which  time 
our  relations  were  intimate,  as  associates  in  the  same 
missionary  circle.  He  was,  in  its  true  meaning  and 
strictest  sense  of  the  term,  a  gentleman.  He  was  so  in- 
nately, and  without  much  artificial  culture.  I  cannot  re- 
call the  word  or  the  act,  that  was  aside  from  perfect  pro- 
priety and  good  taste.  As  a  Christian  he  was  intelligent, 
thoughtful,  calm,  with  no  fitfulness,  and  little  demonstra- 
tion. What  he  believed  to  be  right,  he  did  with  few 
words,  and  no  parade  of  sacrifice.  As  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  he  was  well  informed  in  doctrine  and  ecclesias- 
tics, with  no  claim  to  a  mastery  of  theological  and  exe- 
getical  science.  His  discourses  were  written  with  a  slow 
pen  and  carefulness  of  expression,  were  clear  in  style, 
instructive  in  matter,  pious  in  spirit,  and  calculated  to 
benefit  the  thoughtful  hearer.  As  a  missionary,  he  was 
fraternal  in  all  his  feelings  towards  his  associates,  ready 
to  go  to  any  place,  and  engage  in  any  service  assigned 
him.  Though  slow  in  acquiring  the  language,  yet 
through  catechists  he  did  what  he  could  for  the  parish 
placed  under  his  care.  He  was  greatly  esteemed  by  all 
around  him. 

"  Among  the  many  who  have  gone  to  India  in  the 
service  of  the  American  Board,  there  have  been  per- 
sons of  more  masterly  intellect,  profounder  scholar- 
ship, bolder  enterprise,  more  effective  oratory,  and 
wider  reputation  at  home ;  but  for  kindness  of  spirit, 
suavity  of  manner,  singleness  of  purpose,  true-hearted 
piety,  and  sincere  desire  to  be  and  do  right  at  all  times 
and  in  all  ways,  Mr.  Crane  had  no  superiors,  and  few 
equals.     I  recall  with   greatest  satisfaction,   the   days 


356  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

passed  with  him  in  traversing  the  villages  of  Southern 
India,  on  itinerating  tours,  with  Bibles  and  Tracts, 
doing  what  we  could  in  making  known  the  name  and 
claims  of  Messiah,  the  Saviour  King. 

"  In  Mrs.  Crane,  w^as  found  the  faithful  wife  and 
mother,  the  endeared  friend,  and  the  useful  missionary 
assistant." 

Mr.  Crane  left  a  widow  and  six  children,  four  daugh- 
ters and  two  sons. 

(85.)  WILLIAM  McCULLOUGH. 

1852-1858. 

Death  came  to  this  young  brother  in  the  very  prime 
of  life.  He  was  younger  in  years,  at  the  time  of  his 
departure,  than  any  whose  names  had  preceded  his  on 
the  roll  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

William  McCullough,  the  son  of  Alexander  and 
•  McCullough,  was  born  near  the  town  of  Mer- 
cer, on  the  loth  day  of  October,  1824.  He  was  prob- 
ably baptized  by  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  (3),  the  pastor  of 
the  church  of  which  his  parents  were  members,  at  the 
date  of  his  birth.  He  was  a  child  of  the  Covenant. 
And  so  we  find  him  in  early  youth  seeking  the  fold  of 
the  Good  Shepherd,  and  consecrating  himself  to  the 
service  of  the  God  of  his  fathers. 

After  preliminary  studies  at  home,  he  entered  Jeffer- 
son College,  at  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1849, 
with  a  reputation  and  a  record  that  would  be  creditable 
to  any  young  man  in  the  land. 

His  theological  studies  were  pursued  at  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  where,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  held  at  Evansburg,  Pa.,  on  the  15th  day 
of  September,  1852,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gos- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  357 

pel.  The  trial  exercises  on  this  occasion  were,  first,  a 
popular  lecture  on  Heb.  xii.  25-28  ;  and  second,  a  pop- 
ular sermon  on  Phil.  ii.  12,  13. 

The  numerous  vacancies  within  the  bounds  of  Pres- 
bytery, afforded  a  fine  field  of  labor  for  the  young  licen- 
tiate during  the  next  year,  when,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  at  Conneautville,  Pa.,  on  the  7th  day 
of  September,  1853,  he  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist, 
with  the  view  of  laboring  as  a  missionary  near  the  out- 
let of  Lake  Superior. 

In  these  services,  Mr.  Sailor  (79)  preached  the  sermon, 
Mr.  Eaton  (76)  presided,  proposed  the  constitutional 
questions,  and  offered  the  ordaining  prayer,  and  Mr. 
Reynolds  (56)  delivered  the  charge  to  the  evangelist. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1853,  Mr.  McCullough 
reached  his  contemplated  field  of  labor.  This  was 
Saut  Ste.  Marie,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Superior.  Here 
he  continued  to  labor  under  many  and  sore  difficulties, 
until  a  church  was  organized,  and  a  house  of  worship 
erected  for  its  accommodation. 

Li  this  remote  place  his  faith  and  confidence  in  God 
kept  him  from  despondency  under  his  many  discourage- 
ments. In  one  of  his  reports,  he  speaks  of  some  of 
these  discouragements :  "  Besides  the  general  indiffer- 
ence and  Catholicism  which  prevail  here,  I  meet  with 
various  other  errors,  such  as  Universalism,  Unitarian- 
ism,  Swedenborgianism,  etc."  As  to  the  "  indifference," 
he  mentions  that  some  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  his 
church,  had  never  even  been  out  to  hear  him  preach. 
But  there  was  a  brighter  side  to  the  picture.  One  of 
the  first  persons  received  into  the  church,  on  examina- 
tion, was  a  man  who  had  been  long  years  before  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Scotland.  For 
thirty  years  he  had  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Hudson 


358  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

Bay  Fur  Company,  married  to  an  Indian  woman,  and 
had  had  his  home  amongst  the  savages.  But  all  these 
years,  and  under  all  these  disadvantages,  he  had  kept 
religion  alive  in  his  own  soul,  and  like  Abraham  of 
old,  had  erected  his  altar  and  had  bowed  at  its  side 
wherever  he  had  wandered,  and  wherever  he  had  so- 
journed. Feeling  the  weight  of  years  coming  upon 
him,  this  strange  man  who  had  in  youth  wandered  amid 
the  heather  and  broom  of  old  Scotia's  hills,  and  in  his 
manhood  amid  the  bleak  hills  and  eternal  snows  of 
Northwestern  America,  gathers  together  his  household, 
and  makes  a  journey  of  sixteen  hundred  miles,  with  a 
view  of  ending  his  days  and  leaving  his  family  in  the 
midst  of  Christian  society.  So  grace  reigns,  and  thus 
will  it  ultimately  triumph. 

But  the  missionary's  health  failed  under  the  rigors 
of  this  inclement  region,  and  with  a  sad  heart  he  was 
forced  to  leave  his  little  flock  in  the  wilderness,  and 
return  to  his  home.  Here  he  labored  for  some  time 
with  much  acceptance  in  the  congregations  of  Fairview, 
Sturgeonville,  and  Girard,  although  the  state  of  his 
health  precluded  the  idea  of  a  permanent  settlement. 
Sometimes,  under  these  labors,  he  was  ready  to  de- 
spond, and  write  bitter,  things  against  himself,  as  an 
unprofitable  servant,  but  on  receiving  a  member  to  the 
communion  of  the  church  of  Fairview,  who  traced  his 
religious  convictions  to  his  ministry,  he  rejoiced  greatly, 
and  said  that  this  amply  compensated  him  for  all  his 
labor  for  Christ. 

His  last  labor  upon  earth  was  in  collecting  funds  for 
the  erection  of  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Erie,  Pa. 
His  disease  was  consumption,  and  when  forced  to  retire 
from  all  labor  by  increasing  weakness,  he  returned  to 
his  native  home,  and  in   the  arms  of  his  parents,  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  859 

sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  on  the  1st  day  of  February, 
1858,  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  of  his  age  and  sixth  of 
his  ministry. 

Throughout  his  entire  preparatory  course,  as  well  as 
during  the  years  of  his  ministry,  this  young  brother  was 
subject  to  ill  health,  which  paralyzed  his  energies,  and 
filled  him  oftentimes  with  deep  discouragement.  In 
spirit,  he  was  eminently  peaceful  and  quiet ;  in  per- 
sonal faith  strong,  although  his  heart  was  often  sad,  as 
he  looked  out  upon  the  fields  white  for  the  harvest, 
without  the  physical  strength  to  enter  upon  the  work. 
But  the  will,  and  the  heart  to  labor,  were  accepted  by 
the  Master,  and  so  he  was  called  early  to  the  rest  and 
the  reward,  where  the  heart  is  never  sad,  and  where 
"  the  inhabitant  shall  no  more  say,  I  am  sick." 

The  subjoined  faithful  and  loving  tribute,  is  from 
the  hand  of  an  intimate  friend  and  ministerial  broth- 


er 


"  It  has  been  my  privilege  to  walk  hand  in  hand  with 
William  McCullough  through  every  stage,  from  the 
commencement  of  his  Christian  journey.  In  the  same 
social  circle,  the  same  preparatory  studies,  and  the  same 
ministerial  labors,  I  have  known  him,  not  as  companion 
knows  companion,  but  as  heart  mingles  with  familiar 
heart.  And  everywhere  I  have  witnessed  from  him  a 
precious  and  beautiful  lesson,  which  his  life  has  fur- 
nished to  all  his  acquaintance,  —  that  of  a  character 
moulded  by  the  truths  which  he  professed.  A  distin- 
guished Professor  has  portrayed  '  Our  Theology  in  its 
Developments,'  by  an  intellectual  view,  which  renders 
our  system  clearer  to  every  human  heart.  But  it 
was  given  to  brother  McCullough  to  illustrate  that 
theology  in  the  conformation  of  a  personal  Christian 
1  Rev.  J.  I.  Smith. 


360  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

character,  which  displayed  the  symmetry,  completeness, 
and  gospel  likeness  of  the  same  system  wrought  out 
into  actual  life. 

"  His  theological  views  seemed  to  be  but  the  accept- 
ance and  transfer  of  Scriptural  statements,  without  any 
trace  of  doctrinal  formularies.  He  knew  nothing  of  the 
intervention  of  human  questionings  between  God's  ut- 
terances and  his  implicit  belief.  Though  familiar  with 
the  range  of  discussions,  when  he  came  to  apply  for 
wisdom  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  he  appeared  uncon- 
scious that  there  were  opinions  of  others  recorded.  He 
drew  near  to  listen  only  to  the  voice  of  the  Most  High. 
^Nothing  for  a  moment  found  respect  with  him,  unless 
it  was  on  the  inspired  pages  of  the  Bible.  If  he  saw  it 
there,  he  transferred  it  at  once  to  its  appropriate  place 
in  his  system,  or  applied  it  to  its  proper  use  upon  the 
heart. 

"  It  was  truth  prevailed  so  distinguishingly  to  form  a 
complete  religious  character.  No  veil  of  distrust  hung 
between  God's  utterances  and  his  heart.  Consequently 
his  habits  of  devotion  were  the  responsive  feelings  of 
his  heart  to  truths  so  close  and  real  to  him.  None 
could  overhear  his  exercises  in  private,  or  join  his 
prayers  in  public,  without  being  impressed  and  profited 
by  the  freedom  and  directness  of  his  intercourse  with 
God.  It  was  the  language  of  a  fully  confiding  soul, 
speaking  to  a  present  God  and  Father.  Many  who 
have  heard  him,  have  longed  to  attain  his  holy  intimacy 
in  prayer  ;  but  it  was  only  the  result  of  his  habit  of  ac- 
cepting every  word  at  once  from  God's  mouth,  cherished 
by  practice  and  baptized  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"  His  entire  character  seemed  to  present  a  beautiful 
miniature  of  the  gospel.  Each  truth  which  he  em- 
braced, seemed  to  germinate  and  grow  into  its  corre- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  361 

spending  trait,  so  forming  the  harmonious  completeness 
of  the  Christian.  In  his  work,  he  knew  but  one  object 
and  one  degree  of  consecration  to  it  —  the  measure  of 
his  life.  He  sustained  uninterrupted  cheerfulness,  be- 
neath the  languor  and  discouragements  of  a  most  dis- 
piriting form  of  disease.  His  work  was  speedily  closed. 
His  welcome,  his  rest,  his  reward  soon  reached." 

(102.)  ROBERT   TAYLOR. 

1861-1864. 

Robert  Taylor  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  was 
born  in  Ballynarig,  County  Derry,  on  the  12th  day  of 
August,  1830.  His  parents  moved  in  the  humbler  walks 
of  life,  yet  were  devotedly  pious.  In  his  infancy,  his 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country  and  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia. Here  Robert  enjoyed  the  careful  religious 
training  of  a  mother  who,  although  often  sorely  afflicted, 
yet  sedulously  endeavored  to  discharge  her  whole  duty 
to  her  household.  To  this  son  she  was  peculiarly  at- 
tached ;  and  for  him  her  faith  was  unbounded.  As  he 
approached  manhood,  and  at  times  seemed  light  and 
wayward  and  unpromising,  her  prophetic  saying  was, 
"  My  boy  will  live  and  yet  be  a  minister  of  the  precious 
One,  who  loved  me  and  gave  Himself  for  me." 

He  became  a  communicant  in  the  Second  Associate 
Reformed  Church  of  Philadelphia,  and  by  that  church 
was  enabled  to  prosecute  his  studies  imtil  he  entered 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  this  institution  he  gave  promise  of  great  excellence 
as  a  scholar  and  public  speaker.  There  was  a  bril- 
liancy and  polish  that  shone  out  from  his  mind  that  was 
most  attractive.  But  there  was  a  change  that  came 
over   him  that  filled    his    friends  with  apprehension 


362  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

and  fear.  The  world  became  very  attractive  to  him. 
The  voice  of  pleasure  was  in  his  ear.  The  song  of 
the  siren  attracted  him  until  it  seemed  that  he  must 
be  wrecked  upon  the  rocks  and  devoured  by  the  sea- 
monsters.  He  left  the  University  in  his  junior  year 
and  engaged  in  business  for  a  time  ;  married,  moved  to 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,^  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  After  this  he  removed  to  Mercer,  Pennsylvania, 
and  commenced  practice,  with  eminent  qualifications  for 
success.  But  the  voice  of  the  siren  still  followed  him, 
and  although  he  knew  her  song  was  luring  him  to  ruin, 
he  could  not  break  away  from  her  influence.  With  sur- 
passing gifts  of  reason  and  eloquence,  he  yet  wasted 
his  noble  powers  and  threw  away  his  influence.  Others 
would  undertake  causes,  engage  his  services  before  the 
jury,  where  he  would  appear  with  most  persuasive  elo- 
quence and  power,  and  themselves  reap  all  the  substan- 
tial benefits.  Says  one  ^  who  was  a  fellow  member  of 
the  bar  of  Mercer,  "  I  well  remember  the  first  time  I 
met  him  as  an  antagonist.  It  was  before  a  justice,  and 
on  the  trial  of  a  trifling  case.  Not  over  a  dozen  per- 
sons were  present.  The  case  was  a  plain  one,  and  I 
was  surprised  that  he  spoke  at  all ;  much  more  so  that 
he  spoke  as  he  did.  I  had  never  before  heard  a  better 
argument,  nor  so  much  eloquence  and  beauty  of  diction 
in  any  trial,  and  before  any  court.  His  closing  words 
were,  '  Surely  I  ask  nothing  wrong  when  I  only  ask  for 
justice ! ' 

"  He  had  accidentally  left  a  manuscript  in  one  of  my 
books  used  at  the  trial.  It  contained  the  substance  of 
his  argument  and  the  finest  passages  of  his  speech.  I 
returned  it  to  him  with  the  remark,  that  he  had  made 

1  Wilson's  Presbyterian  Historical  Almanac,  1865. 

2  Judge  Trunkey. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  363 

too  good  an  effort  for  such  an  occasion,  *  No/  said  he, 
'when  a  man  speaks,  he  should  always  try  to  speak 
well.'  The  preparation  for  this  small  case  is  an  index 
to  his  character.  I  never  knew  him  to  speak  without 
preparation  when  he  had  opportunity  to  prepare. 

"  When  he  closed  his  brief  career  at  the  bar,  he  stood 
in  this  community  first  for  eloquence,  among  the  first 
for  power  as  an  advocate  and  ability  to  arrive  at  correct 
conclusions  on  legal  questions ;  and  for  beauty  and 
finish  of  his  legal  papers  and  reports  he  had  no  peer. 
He  loved  study.  He  loved  to  write.  He  delighted  in 
the  classics  and  higher  order  of  literature.  Before  he 
left  the  bar,  I  often  thought  how  much  nature  and  cul- 
ture had  done  to  fit  him  for  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 
His  style  of  speaking  seemed  to  me  well  adapted  to  the 
ministry  —  grave,  earnest,  and  impressive.  His  mind 
was  well  stored  with  classical  learning,  and  he  seldom 
spoke  without  drawing  therefrom  to  beautify  and  adorn 
his  subject.  His  knowledge  of  English  literature  was 
very  great. 

"  He  reasoned  much  by  analogy.  No  man  could 
better  illustrate  his  subject  by  appropriate  comparisons. 
?lis  imagination  seemed  to  be  boundless.  His  tempera- 
ment was  such  that  when  composing  he  would  write  as 
though  his  audience  were  before  him,  thereby  giving  to 
his  written  addresses  that  spirit  seldom  reached  in 
studied  orations.  His  erudition  and  learning,  always 
adorning  and  illustrating  his  theme,  never  rendered  him 
pedantic." 

But  all  this  time  the  mercy  and  grace  of  God  were 
following  him.  His  waywardness  and  folly  were  always 
obvious  to  him  ;  yet  he  began  at  last  to  see  his  danger, 
and  resolve  for  better  things.  PTe  was  made  to  trace 
with  an  overflowing  heart,  the  influence  of  a  mother's 


864  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

prayers  and  the  rich  grace  of  a  covenant-keeping  God. 
The  path  of  duty  seemed  plain.  He  sought  once  more 
the  fold  of  the  Church,  and  was  received  as  a  member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Mercer.  The  profes- 
sion of  law  was  relinquished,  and  he  became  a  student 
of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary.  On  the  8th  day 
of  May,  1861,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 

Anxious  to  labor,  as  he  remarked  to  a  friend,  where 
he  could  do  the  most  good  during  his  short  life,  he 
accepted  an  invitation  to  labor  in  Warren,  Pa.,  and 
preached  his  first  sermon  to  that  people  from  the 
words :  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth 
peace,  good  will  towards  men."  On  the  13th  of  the 
following  November,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  same  Presbytery  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Warren. 
In  these  services  John  V.  Reynolds,  D.  D.,  (56), 
preached  the  sermon,  John  R.  Findley  (92)  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  James  M.  Shields  (88)  the 
charge  to  the  people.  Here  he  continued  to  labor 
earnestly  and  with  great  acceptance,  until  September 
26, 1862,  when  at  his  own  request  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved,  and  he  dismissed  to  connect  himself  with 
the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  He  had  re- 
solved to  accept  a  call  to  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Germantown,  Pa.  He  labored  there  with 
fidelity  and  earnestness.  But  he  was  not  to  continue 
long  in  that  field.  The  North  Presbyterian  Church, 
Philadelphia,  sought  him  for  their  pastor.  The  pressure 
was  great.  He  loved  his  present  charge.  But  the  new 
field  was  large,  and  after  earnest  inquiry  and  prayer  he 
determined  to  accept  the  new  call.  Accordingly  ar- 
rangements were  made  to  preach,  on  the  following  Sab- 
bath, his  farewell  sermon  in  the  one  congregation  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  365 

the  morning  and  his  introductory  to  the  other  in  the 
evening. 

But  man's  ways  are  not  God's  ways.  Before  the 
Sabbath  dawned  Mr.  Taylor  was  upon  a  sick  couch. 
From  this  couch  he  never  rose.  He  gradually  declined, 
until  after  a  brief  illness,  in  which  he  manifested  emi- 
nent composure  of  mind  and  a  calm  and  loving  confi- 
dence in  the  Saviour  whom  he  had  preached  and  in 
whom  he  gloried  as  the  Lord  his  righteousness,  he 
gently  entered  into  rest,  April  15,  1864,  in  the  thirty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age  and  third  of  his  ministry.  Life 
closed  peacefully  and  calmly  when  he  passed  up  to  be 
with  God. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  an  eloquent  preacher.  People  hung 
upon  his  lips  with  breathless  attention  from  the  opening 
sentence  of  his  discourses  until  the  close.  Yet  there 
was  a  humility  and  a  meekness  about  him  that  were 
most  beautiful  and  attractive.  The  same  friend,^  whose 
language  is  quoted  above,  says :  "  I  did  not  often  have 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  him  preach.  His  sermons  were 
all  that  I  expected.  I  thought  he  appeared  meek  and 
humble,  if  not  embarrassed.  He  could  not  have  been 
unconscious  of  his  ability  and  eloquence,  but  to  me  his 
manner  betrayed  a  diffidence  far  beyond  what  I  ex- 
pected to  see." 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  constant  application  and 
study  wore  out  Mr.  Taylor's  life.  He  would  never 
preach  without  the  most  elaborate  preparation.  His 
discourses  must  be  wrought  out  with  the  most  scrupu- 
lous care  and  attention.  In  Germantown  he  com- 
menced lecturing  on  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  at  his 
Wednesday  evening  prayer  meetings.  At  first  he  took 
but  little  pains  with  the  preparation  of  these  lectures, 

1  Judge  Trunkey. 


366  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

but  their  fame  soon  spread,  and  people  came  to  hear. 
Thus  encouraged,  he  began  to  write  out  these  lectures 
in  full,  thus  increasing  a  burden  that  was  already  too 
great  for  his  physical  system.  The  mind  and  the  body 
were  illy  mated,  and  the  latter  gave  way  under  the  nerv- 
ous pressure  of  the  former.  It  was  the  bright  Damas- 
cus blade  wearing  away  and  cutting  in  sunder  the  scab- 
bard that  was  illy  adapted  to  its  power. 

In  person  Mr.  Taylor  was  about  the  medium  stature, 
dark  complexion,  dark  brilliant  eye,  and  generally  mani- 
fested an  abstracted  air,  as  though  his  thoughts  were  far 
away.  He  was  most  unselfish  in  his  disposition,  and 
in  his  intercourse  with  others  gentle,  magnanimous,  and 
forgiving.  This  was  true  even  amid  the  bustle  and  ex- 
citement of  trials  and  the  confusion  of  courts.  He  al- 
ways maintained  the  "suaviter  in  modo." 

Early  in  life  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Christiana,  daughter  of  Thomas  Pearson  of  Mercer, 
Pa.,  who  survives  him.     They  had  no  children. 


NOTICES  OF   LIVING  MINISTERS. 


t 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  369 

(30.)  JOHN  VAN  LIEVV,  D.  D. 

1820 . 

Dr.  Van  Liew  is  of  Holland  origin.  He  is  the  son  of 
Dennis  and  Maria  (Suidam)  Van  Liew,  and  was  born 
in  Neshannick,  Somerville  County,  N.  J.,  on  the  30th 
day  of  September,  1798.  His  ancestors  emigrated  to 
this  country  with  the  early  settlement  of  New  York. 
His  parents  were  married  in  1789.  John  Van  Liew's 
education,  both  classical  and  theological,  was  acquired 
in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  He  graduated  at  Queen's 
(now  Rutger's;  College  in  1816,  and  studied  theology 
at  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Reformed  Prot- 
estant Dutch  Church.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Classis  of  New  Brunswick,  in  June,  1820. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year,  he  came  to  Meadville,  and 
commenced  his  labors  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
that  place.  Here  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie  on  the  2 2d  day  of  August,  1821.  In  these  ex- 
ercises, Johnston  Eaton  (20)  preached  the  sermon,  and 
Amos  Chase  (25)  delivered  the  charges.  This  relation 
continued  until  June  21,  1824,  when,  on  account  of  im- 
paired health,  it  was  dissolved,  and  the  next  day  Mr. 
Van  Liew  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey. 

In  the  spring  of  the  next  year,  his  health  having  im- 
proved, he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Mendham,  N.  J.  In  the  autunm  of  1825,  his  health 
again  failing,  he  took  a  tour  to  the  Southern  States, 
going  as  far  as  Georgia.  After  spending  six  months  in 
the  South,  he  returned,  and  soon  accepted  a  call  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church, 
in  Readington,  N.  J.  In  this  church  he  has  labored 
faithfully  and  successfully  for  upwards  of  forty  years. 
24 


370  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1827,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ann  M.  Woodruff,  daughter  of  Dr.  H.  S. 
Woodruff,  of  Mendham,  N.  J.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  Van  Liew  is  of  medium  height,  light  hair  and 
complexion,  blue  eyes,  and  rather  slender  form.  His 
ecclesiastical  connection  is  now  with  the  Classis  of 
Philadelphia,  the  most  southern  of  any  Classis  in  the 
Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church. 

(32.)  DAVID  McKINNEY,  D.  D. 

1824 . 

David  Mc Kinney,  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Jane  Mc- 
Kinney,  was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pa.,  October  22, 
1795.  In  his  infancy  his  parents  removed  to  Center 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  grew  up  to  manhood.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Jefferson  College  in  1821,  pursued  his  theolog- 
ical studies  at  Princeton,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  in  April, 
1824.  Soon  after  he  went  to  Erie,  Pa.,  where  accept- 
ing calls  from  the  church  of  that  place,  he  was  ordained 
and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  13, 1825. 
In  these  exercises,  Timothy  Alden  (27)  preached  the 
sermon,  and  Samuel  Tait  (3)  delivered  the  charges. 
This  relation  continued  until  April  22,  1829,  when,  at 
his  own  request,  it  was  dissolved,  and  on  the  21st  of 
September,  1830,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntington.  Dr.  McKinney  resided  eleven  years  in 
Center  County,  Pa.  Seven  of  these  years,  from  1834  to 
1841,  he  was  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Sinking  Creek 
and  Spring  Creek.  From  1841  to  1852,  he  was  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.  In  1852,  he  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  and  established  the  "  Presbyte- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  371 

rian  Banner."  In  1855,  he  removed  the  "  Banner"  to 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  conducted  it  until  1864,  when  he 
established  the  "  Family  Treasure."  He  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  Librarian  and  Treasurer  of  the  Synodical 
Board  of  Colportage. 

(36.)  ABSALOM  McCREADY. 

1825 . 

Absalom  McCreadt  was  born  in  Washington  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  on  the  6th  day  of  June,  1796.  He  graduated 
at  Jefferson  College,  in  1824.  His  theological  studies 
were  pursued  under  the  direction  of  Samuel  Tait  (3). 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1825.  Having 
accepted  calls  from  the  churches  of  Middlebrook  (for- 
merly Upper  Greenfield),  Union,  and  Beaverdam,  in 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  on 
the  14th  day  of  September,  1826,  and  installed  as  pas- 
tor. In  these  exercises,  David  McKinney  (32)  preached 
the  sermon,  Samuel  Tait  (3)  delivered  the  charge  to 
the  pastor,  and  Giles  Doolittle  (33)  to  the  people.  He 
was  released  from  Middlebrook  in  1833,  and  from 
Beaverdam  and  Union  in  1835.  In  1837,  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  church  of  Warren,  Pa.  This  re- 
lation was  dissolved  in  1838.  In  1839,  he  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Neshannock.  In  1845,  he, 
with  his  church,  was  attached  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Beaver.  The  pastoral  relation  with  the  church  of 
Neshannock  was  dissolved  in  1858. 


872  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(39.)  PETER  HASSINGER. 

1827  . 

Peter   Hassinger,  son  of  Peter  and  Jane  Hass- 
inger,  was  born  near  Newark,  Delaware,  on  the  24tli 
day  of  November,  1801.    He  is  one  of  twins.    His  early 
life  was  spent  in  agricultural  and  mechanical  pursuits. 
Always  serious  and  thoughtful  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
he  made  a  public  profession  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and 
some   months  afterward  began  to  consider  the  matter 
of  the  gospel  ministry.     He    commenced  his  classical 
studies  in  his  twentieth  year  at  the  Newark  Academy. 
His  theological  studies  were  pursued  at  Princeton,  after 
which   he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  in  April,  1827.    He  preached 
for  a  few  months  in  the  vacancies  around  Philadelphia, 
when  he    received  a  commission  from  the  Board  of 
missions  to  labor  in  Crawford  and  Erie  counties,  within 
the  bounds  of  the   Presbytery  of  Erie.     On  the  first 
day  of  October,  1828,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Gravel  Run.     Giles  Doo- 
little  (33)  preached  the  sermon,  Amos  Chase  (25)  de- 
livered the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  David  McKinney 
(32)  the  charge  to  the  people.     He  preached  in  Water- 
ford  one  third  of  the  time  in  connection  with  Gravel 
Run.      This  relation  was  dissolved  in  1832,  when  he 
preached  for  a  time  to  the  churches  of  Evansburg,  Har- 
monsburg,  and  North  Bank  in  Crawford  County,  Pa. 
*  In  September,  1836,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie  to  that  of  Washington,  when  he  settled  in 
Claysville,  Pa.     He  resigned  this  charge  in  1839,  and 
settled  in  the^  church  of  Unity,  in  Blairsville.  Presbytery. 
He  was  afterwards  settled  at  McVeytown,  Huntingdon 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  3T3 

Presbytery.  In  1849,  he  removed  to  the  West.  In 
the  West  he  has  been  preaching,  distributing  Bibles 
and  Tracts,  and  engaged  in  other  enterprises,  looking 
to  the  welfare  of  Zion. 

About  the  year  1831,  Mr.  Hassinger  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Anna  S.  Hyde,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Hyde,  of  New  York  city.  She  died  on  the  28th 
of  March,  1855,  uttering  as  her  last  words,  "  All  will  fail 
but  Jesus."     They  had  three  children. 

(40.)  JAMES  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

1828 . 

James  Alexander,  the  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Alexander,  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  on 
the  25th  day  of  September,  1798.  He  was  the  first 
young  man  born  in  Mercer  County,  who  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  i  >y  tl  e  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He 
made  a  profession  of  religion  in  his  twenty-second  year. 
Soon  after,  he  began  to  think  of  the  gospel  ministry 
but  was  deterred  by  lack  of  means.  Without  a  knowl- 
edge of  this,  a  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  in  Mercer 
offered  to  assist  him,  when  he  commenced  his  studies. 
Having  studied  for  a  time  at  Mercer  Academy,  he 
repaired  to  Jefferson  College,  where  he  graduated  in 
1826.  His  theological  studies  were  prosecuted  under 
the  direction  of  Samuel  Tait  (3),  his  pastor.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie 
on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1828,  and  on  the  13th  of  Octo- 
ber, in  the  same  year,  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  Greenville,  Salem,  and  Big  Bend. 
Johnston  Eaton  (20)  delivered  the  charge,  and  Pierce 
Chamberlain  (38)  preached  the  sermon.  This  relation 
was  dissolved  June  25, 1834,  and  in  the  following  Janu- 


374  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

ary,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  Dr. 
Alexander  has  labored  with  fidelity  since  that  time  in 
churches  in  Ohio  and  Virginia. 

(41.)  GEORGE  A.  LYON,  D.  D. 

1828 . 

Dr.  Ltox  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Dickinson  College  in  1824.  His  theological 
education  was  pursued  at  Princeton.  He  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  on 
the  9th  day  of  April,  1828.  In  December  of  the  same 
year,  he  was  invited  to  preach  at  Erie,  Pa.,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  where  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on  the  9th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1829.  Giles  Doolittle  (33)  preached  the  sermon, 
Wells  Bushnell  (35)  and  Thomas  Anderson  (37)  de- 
livered the  charges.  Dr.  Lyon  is  still  the  pastor  of  this 
church.  At  the  division  of  the  Presbytery  in  1838,  he 
cast  his  lot  with  the  New  School  branch. 

(43.)  GEORGE  W.    HAIVIPSOK. 

1830 . 

Mr.  Hampson  was  born  in  Huntingdon  County,  Pa. 
In  early  life  his  father,  Robert  Hampson,  removed,  with 
his  family,  to  Harbor  Creek,  Erie  County,  Pa.  George 
W.  Hampson  commenced  his  classical  studies  with 
Johnston  Eaton  (20),  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in 
1827,  and  pursued  his  theological  studies  at  Princeton. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  April  4, 1830.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same 
body,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Oil 
Creek  (now  Titusville)  and  Concord  June  27, 1832.    In 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  375 

these  services,  Giles  Doolittle  (33)  preached  the  ser- 
mon, Johnston  Eaton  (20)  and  Thomas  Anderson  (37) 
delivered  the  charges.  He  was  relieved  of  the  charge 
of  Concord  in  1837.  He  also  labored  for  a  time  at 
Cherrytree,  and  for  many  years  has  been  pastor  of  the 
churches  of  Gravel  Rmi  and  Cambridge,  in  Crawford 
County,  Pa.  At  the  division  of  the  church  in  1838,  he 
adhered  to  the  New  School  branch. 

(46.)  WILLIAM  A.  ADAIR. 

1833 . 

William  A.  Adair,  the  son  of  James  and  Mary 
(McCord)  Adair,  was  born  at  Poland,  Ohio.  He  gradu- 
ated at  Jefferson  College  in  1827.  His  theological 
studies  were  pursued  in  the, Western  Theological  Sem- 
inary. He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Hartford 
(now  Beaver)  on  the  9th  day  of  January,  1833.  Hav- 
ing accepted  calls  from  the  congregations  of  North  East 
and  Harbor  Creek  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  their  pas- 
tor by  that  Presbytery  on  the  7th  day  of  November, 
1833.  In  these  exercises  Johnston  Eaton  (20)  preached 
the  sermon,  and  James  Alexander  (40)  and  Pierce 
Chamberlain  (38)  delivered  the  charges.  He  was  re- 
leased from  Harbor  Creek  in  1834,  and  from  North 
East  about  1837.  After  leaving  Erie  Presbytery  he  la- 
bored for  a  time  in  Alleghany  City.  He  adhered  to 
the  New  School  branch  at  the  division  of  the  church 
in  1838. 


376  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

* 
(48.)   SIMEOK   PECK. 

1830 . 

Simeon  Peck,  son  of  Ebba  and  Margaret  (Taggart) 
Peck,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Grafton  County,  N.  H., 
on  the  IGth  day  of  October,  1799.  His  literary  studies 
were  pursued  at  Hamilton  College,  N.  Y.,  and  his 
theological  at  Princeton.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Oneida,  in  June,  1830. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo,  at 
Carrol,  Chautauque  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1834.  Mr.  Peck's 
life  has  been  a  stormy  one,  owing  to  the  times  and  cir- 
cumstances under  which  he  has  exercised  his  ministry. 
He  has  labored  successfully  at  Alden,  Penfield,  and  Big 
Flats,  N.  Y.,  Salem,  Ohio,  Carrol  and  Otto,  N.  Y.  On 
the  nth  of  May,  1836,  he  was  received  into  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  from  that  of  Buffalo.  In  this  Presby- 
tery he  labored  at  Harbor  Creek,  Evansburg,  and 
Neshannock.  In  1839,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Philadelphia.  Tliere  he  labored  in  Milford 
and  Millville,  Pa.,  also  along  the  Atlantic  Coast  in 
New  Jersey. 

In  1841,  he  turned  his  face  towards  the  great  West, 
laboring  for  a  time  at  Findley,  Lykens,  Eden,  Caroline, 
and  Waynesburg,  Ohio.  In  1857,  he  removed  again  to 
the  West,  and  pitched  his  tent  at  Omaha  City,  Ne- 
braska. Here  he  has  been  laboring  in  the  midst  of 
poverty  and  sickness  and  self-denial,  as  few  of  the 
Lord's  ministers  are  called  to  labor. 

Mr.  Peck  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Christiana  Hollinshead,  who  died  in  1845.  His 
second  wife  was  Miss  Eliza  Clark.  Their  children  were 
thirteen  in  number,  several  of  whom  were  called  away 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  377 

in  childhood.  At  two  different  periods  in  Mr.  Peck's 
life,  his  house  was  burned,  leaving  him  in  poverty  and 
suffering.  His  whole  life  in  fact  has  been  one  of  strug- 
gles and  hardships.  Yet  withal,  he  has  endured  hard- 
ness as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  content  with 
labor  and  toil  and  suffering  here,  in  the  INIaster's  work, 
with  the  hope  of  rest  and  peace  and  triumph  hereafter. 

(49.)  JAMES    G.  WILSON. 

1833 . 

Mr.  Wilson  was  born  in  Dublin,  Bucks  County,  Pa., 
January,  1806.  His  classical  studies  were  pursued  for 
a  time  ^t  Doylestown  and  Newtown,  where  he  entered 
Alleghany  College,  and  graduated  in  1829.  He  studied 
theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  June  26,  1833.  He  preached  for  two  years  at 
Randolph,  Crawford  County,  Pa.  On  the  12th  day  of 
October,  1836,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of 
the  churches  of  Greenville  and  Salem,  in  Mercer 
County,  Pa.  In  these  services,  Thomas  Anderson  (37) 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Samuel  Tait  (3)  and  Na- 
thaniel West  (47)  delivered  the  charges.  He  was  re- 
leased from  this  charge  of  Greenville  in  1841,  and  of 
Salem  in  1851.  He  was  also  pastor  of  Cool  Spring  for 
a  portion  of  his  time,  from  1842  to  1850.  On  the  1st 
day  of  October,  1850,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie  to  that  of  Iowa,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  laboring  in  that  Presbytery. 


378  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(5^.)  ROBINSON   S.   LOCKWOOD. 

1834 . 

R.  S.  LocKwooD,  son  of  Nathan  Lockwood,  was 
born  in  Springfield,  Windsor  County,  Vt.  When  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age,  his  father  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.  Here  he  commenced 
his  classical  studies.  He  graduated  at  Middlebury  Col- 
lege in  1832.  His  theological  studies  were  pursued  in 
part  privately,  and  in  part  at  the  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  St.  Lawrence,  in  September,  1834. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Girard,  Pa.,  January 
11,  1837.  In  these  exercises,  Nathaniel  West  (47) 
preached  the  sermon,  and  Johnston  Eaton  (20),  and 
George  A.  Lyon  (41),  delivered  the  charges.  He  was 
released  from  this  pastoral  charge  in  1841.  Mr.  Lock- 
wood  adhered  to  the  New  School  branch,  at  the  time  of 
the  division  of  the  Church. 

(51.)  REUBEN   LEWIS. 

1836 . 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Indiana  County,  January  1, 
1807.  He  graduated  at  the  Western  University,  at 
Pittsburgh,  in  1835.  His  theological  education  was 
completed  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Blairsville,  October  6,  1836.  He  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  November  1,  1837,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Harbor  Creek.    He  had  labored 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  379 

previously  as  a  missionary  in  the  churches  of  Harmons- 
burg,  Conneautville,  and  Big  Conneaut,  in  Crawford 
County,  Pa.  He  was  released  from  the  charge  of  Har- 
bor Creek  in  1840,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio.  He  labored  afterwards  for  a  time  at  Fairmount, 
Va.  He  is  now  in  connection  with  the  Southern  Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

(52.)  WILLIAM  FULLER. 

1827 . 

William  Fuller,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Hun- 
tington) Fuller,  was  born  at  Hampton,  Conn.,  January 
28,  1801.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1825.  His 
theological  studies  were  pursued  in  part  at  Yale,  and 
completed  at  Princeton.  He  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Windham  County  Association,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1827.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  associa- 
tion, October  19,  1830.  Much  of  his  life  and  labors 
have  been  of  a  missionary  kind.  He  labored  at  Bris- 
tol and  Weston,  R.  L,  and  at  Southhold,  Long  Island. 
In  1833,  he  took  a  tour  west,  as  far  as  Louisville,  Ky., 
preaching  by  the  way.  For  the  five  succeeding  years, 
he  preached  in  different  churches  in  New  York  and 
New  England,  when  he  settled  in  Conneaut,  Ohio.  In 
1838,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 
In  1842,  he  was  connected  with  the  Erie  "  Ladies'  Sem- 
inary." In  1844,  he  removed  to  Michigan,  where  he 
has  labored  in  various  churches  with  considerable  suc- 
cess. 

In  August,  1837,  Mr.  Fuller  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Margaretta  Knox,  of  Carlisle,  Pa.  They  have 
two  sons. 


380  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(54.)  DAVID  WAGGONER. 

1838 . 

David  Waggoner  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pa. 
His  literary  studies  were  pursued  in  part  at  Jefferson 
College,  and  in  part  at  the  Western  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  graduated.  His  theological  studies 
were  pursued  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Ohio,  in  1838.  Having  accepted  calls  from  the 
concrregations  of  Georgetown  and  Fairfield,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  he  was  ordained  by 
that  body  on  the  11th  day  of  July,  1838.  In  these  ex- 
ercises, W^ells  Biishnell  (35)  preached  the  sermon,  and 
Absalom  McCready  (36)  and  Robert  Glenn  (44)  de- 
livered the  charges.  He  was  released  from  these  charges 
in  1853,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  of  Pu- 
laski, in  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver.  In  1864,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Georgetown  and  Greenfield. 

(55.)  DANIEL  WASHBURN. 

1825 . 

Daniel  Washburn  was  born  in  South  Brimfield, 
Mass.,  in  the  year  1792  ;  graduated  at  Middlebury  Col- 
lege in  1818,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Bath,  in  1825.  He  was  ordained  as 
an  evangelist  in  1831,  by  the  same  Presbytery.  He 
was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  in  1839,  and 
labored  for  a  time  at  Evansburg,  and  was,  in  1841,  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Wooster  ;  thence  he  re- 
moved and  became  connected  with  the  Presbytery  of 
Zanesville. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  381 

In  1823  Mr.  "Washburn  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Diven. 

(56.)  JOHN  VAN  LIEW  REYN^OLDS,  D.  D. 

1838 . 

John  Y.  Reynolds,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Ellicott) 
Reynolds,  was  born  in  Meadville,  Pa.  He  graduated 
at  Jefferson  College  in  1834,  studied  theology  at  Prince- 
ton, and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  April  18,  1838,  and  was  ordained  by 
the  same  body,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Meadville,  November  13,  1839.  Absalom  McCready 
(36)  preached  the  sermon,  Samuel  Tait  (3)  and  John- 
ston Eaton  (20)  delivered  the  charges.  Dr.  Reynolds' 
charge  has  not  changed  to  the  present  time. 

(57.)  EDMUND   McKINNEY. 

Mr.  Mc  Kinney  is  a  graduate  of  Washington  Col- 
lege, and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle.  He  was  received  under  the  care  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  October  12, 1839,  and  ordained 
by  that  body  as  an  evangelist,  November  13,  of  the 
same  year.  He  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  to  that  of  Carlisle,  September  15,  1841.  He  was 
a  government  chaplain  during  the  war. 

(58.)  CYRUS  DICKSON,  D.  D. 

1839 . 

Cyrus  Dickson,  son  of  William  and  Christiana 
(Moorhead)  Dickson,  was  born  in  Harbor  Creek,  Erie 
County,  Pa.    He  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1837. 


382  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

His  theological  studies  were  pursued  privately.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  October  13, 1839,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Pres- 
bytery, June  24,  1840,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
churches  of  Franklin  and  Sugar  Creek.  From  the 
latter  church,  he  was  dismissed  January  1,  1846,  and 
from  the  former,  March,  1848.  At  the  latter  date,  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  to  that  of 
Washington.  From  1848  to  1856,  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Second  Church,  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  pastorate  of  Westminster  Church, 
Baltimore,  Md. 

(59.)  EDWARD  SPENCER  BLAKE. 

1839 . 

E.  S.  Blake  was  born  in  Westborough,  Worcester 
County,  Mass.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1835, 
studied  theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary, 
and  at  Andover,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel 
by  the  Woburn  Association  in  1839.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  14,  1841,  and  installed 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Gravel  Run  and  Evansburg. 
Ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign  his  charge  at  the 
close  of  one  year,  since  which  time  he  has  been  teach- 
ing, and  engaged  in  secular  business. 

(60.)  HIRAM  EDDY. 

1839 . 

Hiram  Eddy  w^as  born  in  Pittsfield,  Vt.,  in  1813. 
His  literary  studies  were  pursued  at  Hamilton  College, 
N.  Y.,  theological  studies  pursued  privately.  He  was 
licensed  and  ordained  by  the  Western  New  York  Asso- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  383 

ciation  ;  the  former  date  was  January  17,  1839,  the  lat- 
ter May,  1840.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  in  June,  1841,  and  was  dismissed  to  Buf- 
falo City  in  1845.  During  the  late  rebellion,  he  served 
as  a  chaplain,  and  suffered  imprisonment  in  Libby 
Prison. 

(61.)  JOSEPH  T.  SMITH,  D.  D. 

1841 . 

Joseph  T.  Smith,  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  was  born  at 
Mercer,  Pa.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in 
1837,  studied  theology  privately,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  14, 
1841.  He  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  April 
20,  1842,  and  installed  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mercer. 
He  was  released  from  this  charge  in  April,  1849.  At 
the  same  time,  he  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  to  that  of  Baltimore,  where  he  became  pastor 
of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  Baltimore. 

(62.)  JAMES  COULTER. 

1842 . 

James  Coulter  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.  He 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1839,  studied  theol- 
ogy at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Al- 
leghany, in  April,  1842.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie,  September  14,  1842,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Concord  and  Deerfield,  in 
Venango  and  Warren  counties.  He  was  afterwards 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Sugar  Creek,  Harmon sburg, 
and  Evansburg.  On  the  15th  day  of  June,  1852,  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  that  of 
Alleghany,  where  he  is  still  laboring. 


384  PRESBYTERY    OF^  ERIE. 

(63.)  HENRY  WEBBER. 

1843 . 

Henry  "Webber  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa. 
He  graduated  at  Princeton,  pursued  his  theological 
studies  at  the  same  place,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown,  in  April, 
1843.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  on 
the  20th  day  of  January,  1843,  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  church  of  Greenville,  Pa.  He  was  released  from 
this  charge,  October  16,  1844,  and  on  the  22d  of  Jan- 
uary following,  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  to  that 
of  Beaver.  In  this  Presbytery,  he  labored  for  many 
years  in  the  church  of  North  Sewickley. 

(64.)  JAMES  W.  DICKEY. 

1842 . 

Mr.  Dickey  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio.  His  liter- 
ary studies  were  pursued  at  Hopewell  Academy,  and  his 
theological  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Wm.  Neill, 
D.  D.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  April  20,  1842, 
and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  October  4, 
1843,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Con- 
neautville,  Harmonsburg,  and  Evansburg.  In  1847,  he 
was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Richland,  and  be- 
came pastor  of  the  church  of  Mansfield,  Ohio.  In 
1854,  he  returned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  and  has 
since  been  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Gravel  Run  and 
Washinofton. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  385 

(65.)  ALEXANDER  CUNNINGHAM. 

Mr.  Cunningham,  son  of  Thomas  S.  Cunningham, 
was  born  in  Mercer,  Pa.,  January  21,  1815,  graduated 
at  Washington  College,  Pa.,  in  1840,  studied  theology 
at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1842,  and  ordained  by  the  same,  October  5, 
1843,  and  installed  as  the  pastor  of  the  churches  of 
Gravel  Run  and  Washington.  He  was  released  from 
this  charge  in  1851,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Alleghany. 

(67.)  JOHN  M.  SmTH. 

1837 . 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Cannonsburg,  Pa.  He 
was  for  a  time  a  student  at  Jefferson,  but  graduated  at 
Washington  College,  in  1835.  His  theological  studies 
were  pursued  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ; 
licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  June,  1837  ; 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  in  1840,  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  church  of  Mingo.  In  October, 
1845,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
and  on  the  28th  of  January  following,  was  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Warren,  Pa. ;  released  from  his 
charge  August  11,  1847.  He  was  dismissed  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  to  that  of  Muhlenburg  in  March, 
1848.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  mainly  engaged  in 
teaching,  although  preaching  as  opportunity  offers. 

25 


386  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(69.)  MILES  T.  MERWIN. 

1841  . 

Mr.  Merwin  was  born  in  Milford,  Conn.,  and  grad- 
uated at  Yale  in  1828.  His  theological  studies  were 
pursued  in  part  with  the  late  Ichabod  S.  Spencer,  D.  D., 
and  in  part  at  Princeton.  He  was  licensed  October  13, 
1841,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York ;  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  eTune  24,  1846,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Irvine,  Warren  County,  Pa., 
laboring  at  the  same  time  at  Sugar  Grove  and  Warren. 
He  was  dismissed  from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  to  that  of 
Huntington,  October  28,  1848.  Here  he  labored  for  a 
time.  Afterwards  he  visited  Florida,  and  remained  for 
a  time,  travelling  into  Alabama,  and  preaching  at 
vacant  points.  Of  late  years  he  has  labored  as  a 
domestic  missionary,  wherever  the  field  has  opened 
before  him. 

(73.)  LEMUEL  GREGORY  OLMSTEAD,  LL.  D. 

1837 . 

Dr.  Olmstead  was  born  in  vSaratoga  County,  N.  Y., 
graduated  at  Union  College,  and  pursued  his  theological 
studies  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Bea- 
ver, about  the  year  1837,  and  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  April  20,  1848.  He  then  visited  Europe, 
sojourning  in  Rome  for  several  years.  His  principal 
business  has  been  teaching.  During  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  he  acted  as  chaplain  for  some  three  years.  As 
a  scientific  scholar  and  antiquarian.  Dr.  Olmstead  has 
had  few  equals  amongst  his  brethren  of  the  Presbytery. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  387 

(75.)  JAMES  HENRY  CALLEN. 

1848 . 

Mr.  Callen  was  born  at  Raphoe,  Ireland,  and  emi- 
grated to  this  country  February  28,^  1843.  He  gradu- 
ated at  La  Fayette  College,  Pa.,  and  pursued  his  theo- 
logical studies  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Washington,  April  19,  1848,  and  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  October  25,  of  the  same  year,  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Greenville.  He 
was  released  from  this  charge  June  23,  1852,  and  on 
the  12th  of  January  following,  dismissed  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie  to  that  of  Redstone.  He  was  for  a  time 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Uniontown,  Pa. ;  thence  he  re- 
moved to  New  Jersey,  thence  to  Brooklyn,  L.  I. 

(76.)  SAMUEL  J.  MILLS  EATON. 

1848 . 

S.  J.  M.  Eaton,  son  of  Rev.  Johnston  and  Eliza 
(Canon)  Eaton,  was  born  in  Fairview,  Erie  County, 
Pa.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  College,  in  1845,  pur- 
sued his  theological  studies  at  the  Western  Theological 
Seminary,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1848. 
He  was  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery  on  the  7th 
day  of  February,  1849,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
churches  of  Franklin  and  Mount  Pleasant,  one  third 
of  the  time  in  the  latter  place.  He  was  released  from 
the  charge  of  Mount  Pleasant,  August  29,  1855,  giving 
his  entire  time  to  Franklin.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Commission. 


388  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(78.)  MICHAEL  A.  PARKINSON. 

1849 . 

Mr.  Parkinson  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pa.  He  graduated  at  Jefferson  "College  in  1846 ; 
studied  theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ; 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio 
April  18,  1849,  and  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
September  11,  1850,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregations of  Concord  and  Deerfield,  the  former  in 
Venango  County,  and  the  latter  in  Warren  County,  Pa. 
He  was  released  from  this  charge  October  20,  1854, 
and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville,  in 
whose  bounds  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  of  Island 
Creek.  Lately  he  has  been  transferred  to  the  church 
of  Bloom  field  in  the  same  Presbytery. 

(79.)  JOHN  SAILOR. 

1847  . 

Mr.  Sailor  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  graduated  at 
Dickinson  College  ;  studied  theology  at  the  Union  Th'e- 
ological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Harrisburg,  April.  12, 1847,  and  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Pennsylvania,  in  June,  1848.  He 
was  received  from  that  Presbytery  into  that  of  Erie, 
September  10,  1850.  On  the  4th  of  May,  1853,  he  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Warren,  Pa., 
released  from  his  charge  August  29,  1855,  and  on  the 
next  day  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  St.  Joseph. 
Here  he  took  charge  of  the  Congregational  Church  of 
Michigan  City.  He  is  at  present  pastor  of  the  church 
of  Allegan,  Michigan. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  389 

(80.)  ROBERT  SLEMMONS  MORTON. 

1848 . 

Mr.  Morton  was  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  grad- 
uated at  Jefferson  College  in  1845  ;  studied  theology  at 
the  "Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver,  June  14,  1848, 
and  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  June  10,  1851, 
and  installed  as  pastor  of  Mount  Pleasant.  On  the 
10th  of  June,  1851,  he  was  received  into  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  and  on  the  10th  of  September  following,  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Mercer.  He 
was  released  from  this  charge  September  14,  1852,  and 
on  the  day  following,  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Blairsville. 

Since  that  time  he  has  been  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  Ebensburg,  Mill  Creek  and  Hookstown,  and  Slip- 
pery Rock  and  Newport,  Pa. 

For  a  time  during:  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  was 
Chaplain  of  the  140th  Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  having 
been  previously  in  the  Christian  Commission. 

(81.)  WILLIAM  WILLSON. 

1850 . 

Mr.  Will  son  was  born  in  Alleghany  County,  Pa. ; 
graduated  at  Muskingum  College,  Ohio ;  studied  theol- 
ogy at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  June  19,  1850  ;  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  11,  1851,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Girard,  Sturgeonville, 
and  Fairview.  He  was  released  from  this  charge  May 
2,  1855,  and  on  the  26th  of  September,  1857,  dismissed 


390  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

to  the  Presbytery  of  Kansas  ;  since  which  time  he  has 
been  laboring  successfully  to  build  up  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  in  that  new  State.  For  a  part  of  the  time  dur- 
ing the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  an  army  chaplain. 

(82.)  JOHN  WESLEY  McCUNE. 

1851  . 

Mr.  McCune  was  born  in  IMercersburg,  Pa. ;  grad- 
uated at  Marshall  College  in  1846 ;  studied  theology 
at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ;  was  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  June  11,  1851 ;  ordained  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  23, 1852,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Cool  Spring  and  Sandy  Lake, 
in  Mercer  County,  Pa.  He  was  released  from  the  lat- 
ter charge,  February  7,  1855,  and  at  the  present  time 
labors  a  third  of  his  time  in  the  congregation  of  Salem , 
in  connection  with  Cool  Spring.  He  was  a  delegate 
of  the  Christian  Commission. 

(83.)  DAVID  GRIER. 

Mr,  Grier  is  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Presbytery  of  Wyoming,  September  7, 
1853  ;  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Green- 
ville, January  18,  1854 ;  released  April  13,  1859  ;  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  September  28, 
1860.  Here  he  was  pastor  for  a  time  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  Dickinson,  but  finally  returned  to  Ireland. 

(84.)  GEORGE  WRIGHT  ZAHNISER. 

1851  . 

Mr.  Zahniser  was  born  in  Mercer,  Pa. ;  graduated 
at  Jefferson  .College    in   1846;    studied   theology  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  391 

Princeton  ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie  April  10.  1851  ;  ordained  by  the  same 
Presbytery,  September  7,  1853,  and  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  congregation  of  Conneautville,  in  Crawford 
County,  Pa.  He  was  released  from  this  charge  on  the 
13th  of  April,  1859,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  Huntington,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Huntington. 

(86.)  ROBERT  F.  SAMPLE. 

1852 . 

Mr.  Sample  was  born  at  Painted  Post,  N.  Y. ;  grad- 
uated at  Jefferson  College  in  1849  ;  studied  theology  at 
the  Western  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Northumberland,  June 
8,  1852  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  October 
18,  1853,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mer- 
cer; released  from  his  charge  May  7,  1856,  and  dis- 
missed the  same  day  to  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle ; 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Bedford,  Pa.,  until  1857  ;  at 
present  pastor  at  St.  Anthony,  Minn. 

(87.)  JAMES  IRWIN  SMITH. 

1853 . 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Pa. ;  gradu- 
ated at  Jefferson  College  in  1851 ;  studied  theology  at 
the  Western  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  September  8, 
1853  ;  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  as  an  evan- 
gelist, August  29,  1854.  He  labored  as  a  missionary  at 
Ontonagon  on  Lake  Superior,  for  upwards  of  ten  years. 
He  is  at  the  present  time  a  domestic  missionary,  located 
at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin. 


392  PRESBYTERY   OF   ERIE. 

(88.)  JAMES  M.  SHIELDS. 

1854 . 

Mr.  Shields  was  born  in  Indiana,  Pa. ;  graduated 
at  Washington  College ;  studied  theology  at  the  TVest- 
ern  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Blairsville,  April  11,  1854;  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  August  29,  1855,  and  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Georgetown  and  Fair- 
field ;  released  from  his  charge  February  23,  1864,  and 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany  City,  where 
he  became  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Bridgewater. 

(88.)  WILLIAM  J.  ALEXANDER. 

1854  . 

Mr.  Alexander  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Pa. ; 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1852.  Studied  theol- 
ogy at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  January 

18,  1854 ;  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery  December 

19,  1855  ;  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Concord  and  Deer- 
field,  in  Venango  and  Warren  Counties ;  released  from 
his  charge  January  7,  1857  ;  on  the  13th  of  April,  1858, 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Washington,  where  he 
became  pastor  of  the  congregation  of  West  Union. 
Mr.  Alexander  is  a  nephew  of  Rev.  James  Alexander, 
D.  D.  (40),  a  former  member  of  Erie  Presbytery.  He 
was  a  deles^ate  of  the  Christian  Commission. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  393 


(90.)    CHARLES  A.  BEHRENDS. 

Mr.  Behrends  is  a  native  of  Germany.  He  was 
received  into  the  Presbytery  August  13,  1856,  on 
papers  setting  forth  that  he  was  in  connection  with  a 
Gennan  Synod.  These  papers  being  found  defective, 
his  name  was  stricken  from  the  roll  August  12,  1857. 

(91.)   WILLIAM  M.  BLACKBURN. 

1854 . 

Mr.  Blackburn  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Indiana ;  grad- 
uated at  Hanover  College,  Indiana,  in  1850  ;  studied 
theology  at  Princeton  ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  April,  1854;  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Lake,  in  1855 ;  received 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  January  7,  1857  ;  installed 
as  pastor  of  Park  Church,  Erie,  on  the  25th  of  May 
following ;  released  from  his  charge  December  22, 1863, 
and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
where  he  became  pastor  of  the  Fourth  Church,  Trenton, 
N.  J.  Mr.  Blackburn  is  the  author  of  numerous  Sab- 
bath-school books. 

(92.)  JOHN  ROSS  FINDLEY. 

1852 . 

Mr.  Fixdley  was  born  in  "Washington,  Ohio  ;  grad- 
uated at  Madison  College  ;  studied  theology  at  Oxford, 
Ohio ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Presbytery  of  Chilicothe,  April  9,  1852  ;  or- 
dained by  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of 
Springfield,  August,  1853  ;  received  into  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  April  29, 1857,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Sydney  ; 


394  •  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

and  installed  the  same  day  as  pastor  of  the  First 
church  of  Mercer.  Mr.  Findley  is  son  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Findley,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and  has 
three  brothers  in  the  ministry.  He  was  a  delegate  of 
the  Christian  Commission. 

(93.)  JOHN  R.  HAMILTON. 

1858 . 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County, 
Pa. ;  graduated  at  Washington  College  in  1853  ;  studied 
theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  April  15, 
1858  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  15, 
1859,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of 
Fairview  and  Sturgeonville ;  released  from  his  charge 
June  15,  1864 ;  September  28,  1865,  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Washington.  He  is  at  present  pastor  of 
the  cons^regation  of  Newark,  Del.  During  the  War  of 
the  RebeUion,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  for  a  time  chaplain 
of  the  145th  Res^iment  Penn.  Vols. 

(94.)  JOHN  DAGG  HOWEY. 

1858 . 

Mr.  Howey  was  born  at  Carrollton,  Ohio ;  graduated 
at  Jefferson  College  in  1856  ;  studied  theology  at  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Steubenville,  April  14, 1858  ;  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  September  21,  1859,  and  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  congregations  of  Mill  Creek  and  Sugar 
Creek,  in  Venango  County,  Pa. ;  released  from  his  pas- 
toral charge  April  26,  1865  ;  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  Columbus,  April  25,  1866. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  395 

(95.)  lEA  MILLER  CONDIT. 

1858 . 

Mr.  Condit  is  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Zahniser) 
Condit,  and  was  born  at  Georgetown,  Pa. ;  graduated 
at  Jefferson  College  in  1855 ;  studied  theology  at  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  14,  1858  ;  or- 
dained by  the  same  Presbytery,  September  24,  1859,  as 
an  evangelist.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  he 
sailed  to  China,  as  a  missionary  of  the  Presbyterian 
Board.  He  is  at  the  present  time  in  this  country.  He 
is  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Ira  Condit  (24),  one  of  the 
fathers  of  the  Presbytery. 

(96.)  ANTHONY  CANON  JUNKIN. 

1854  . 

Mr.  Junkix  was  born  in  Green  County,  Ohio  ;  grad- 
uated at  Miami  University  in  1852  ;  studied  theology  at 
Oxford,  Ohio  ;  licensed  by  the  First  Associate  Reformed 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  April  5,  1854 ;  ordained  by  the 
Associate  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Boston,  May  7, 
1856  ;  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  10, 
1860,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore ;  installed  as 
pastor  of  the  congregation  of  Greenville,  June  10, 1862, 
and  released  from  his  charge  May  8,  1867.  He  was  a 
deleoTcite  of  the  Christian  Commission. 


396  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

(97.)  HUEY  NEWELL. 

1848 . 

Mr.  Netyell  was  born  in  Centre  County,  Pa.; 
pursued  his  studies  at  Jefferson  College,  and  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel by  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion,  April,  1848  ;  ordained 
by  the  same  Presbytery  in  April,  1849.  He  labored  for 
a  time  in  Clarion  County,  Pa. ;  afterwards  in  Iowa. 
He  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  11, 
18  GO,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Iowa. 

(98.)  GEORGE  SCOTT. 

1859 . 

Mr.  Scott  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia ;  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1856,  studied 
theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Washington, 
in  April,  1859  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
June  27,  1860,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congrega- 
tions of  Greenfield,  Evansburg,  and  Harmonsburg  ; 
released  from  his  charge,  June  10,  1862  ;  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Steuben ville,  September  26,  1863. 

(99.)  JAMES  HILLIAR  SPELMAN. 

1850  . 

Mr.  Spelman  was  born  at  East  Granville,  Mass.  ; 
graduated  at  Williams'  College ;  studied  theology  pri- 
vately ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  North  River,  April  17,  1850 ;  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Franklin,  June  2,  1852  ;  received  into 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  397 

the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  8,  1861,  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hudson  ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Washington,  April  13,  1864. 

(100.)  JOHN  GORDEN  CONDIT. 

I860 . 

Mr.  Condit  is  the  son  of  William  Condit,  and  the 
nephew  of  Rev.  Ira  Condit  (24),  and  was  born  in  Mer- 
cer County,  Pa. ;  graduated  at  Jefferson  College ; 
studied  theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ; 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
April  11,  1860  ;  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  June 
26,  1861 ;  installed  pastor  at  Sandy  Lake,  and  stated 
supply  at  Mount  Pleasant,  1863  ;  released  1864;  dis- 
missed Sej^tember  26,  1864,  to  the  Presbytery  of  Fair- 
field ;  stated  supply  at  Salina,  Iowa. 

(101.)  JOHN  HASKELL  SARGENT. 

1856 . 

Mr.  Sargent  is  the  son  of  Winthrop  Sargent,  of 
Philadelphia ;  born  in  Gloucester,  Mass.  ;  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  in  1852 ;  studied  theology  at  Princeton  ; 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia,  April,  18o6  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  June  26,  1861  ;  stated  supply  at  Concord  and 
Deerfield ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  London- 
derry, September  23,  1863. 


398  PRESBYTERY    OF    ERIE. 

(103.)  NEWELL  SAMUEL  LOWRIE. 

1861  . 

Mr.  Lowrie  was  born  in  Montour  County,  Pa.  ; 
studied  theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  ; 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Saltsburg  in  1861  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
October  22,  1862,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gations of  Conneautville  and  Harmonsburg.  He  was  a 
delegate  of  the  Christian  Commission. 

(104.)  JAMES  HERVEY  GRAY. 

1861  . 

Mr.  Gray  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio  ;  studied 
theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed 
to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany 
City,  April,  1861  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
October  22,  1862 ;  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Clarion,  April  25,  1866. 

(105.)  WILLIAM  T.  HAMILTON,  D.  D. 

1823 . 

Dr.  Hamilton  is  a  native  of  England ;  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia, 
October,  1823  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey 
July  24,  1824;  restored  to  the  ministry  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  April  15,  1863 ;  name  removed  from  the 
roll,  April  26,  1865.  He  was  for  a  time  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Warren,  Pa. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  399 

(106.)  WILLIAM  PORTER  MOORE. 

1857 . 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  at  Tarentum,  Pa. ;  graduated 
at  Jefferson  College  in  1855  ;  studied  theology  at  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary ;  licensed  to  preach  the 
gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  October  8, 
1857 ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Clarion  ;  received 
into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  from  that  of  Clarion,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1863  ;  stated  supply  at  Oil  City,  Pa.  Dur- 
ing a  portion  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr.  Moore 
was  chaplain  of  the  142d  Regiment,  Penn.  Volunteers. 

(107.)  GEORGE  FAIRES  CAIN. 

1861  . 

Mr.  Cain  is  the  son  of  George  Faires  and  Rebecca 
(McCaffrey)  Cain,  and  was  born  in  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty, Pa.  He  was  a  student  of  Dickinson  College,  Pa., 
and  for  seven  years  a  member  of  the  Carlisle  Bar.  He 
was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle,  November  9,  1861 ;  ordained  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Newton,  and  installed  as  pastor  at  Stroudsburg, 
Pa.,  May  28,  1863  ;  received  into  Erie  Presbytery  from 
that. of  Newton,  April  13,  1864;  installed  as  pastor  of 
Park  Church,  Erie,  on  the  11th  of  May  following. 

(108.)  WILLIAM  MARSHALL  ROBINSON. 

Mr.  Robinson,  son  of  John  and  Jane  Scott  (Mar- 
shall) Robinson,  was  born  in  Indiana  County,  Pa.; 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1841 ;  studied  theol- 
ogy at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  ;  licensed  to 


400  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  June 
19,  1844;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Zanesville, 
January,  1846 ;  stated  supply  for  ten  years  at  Hebron 
and  Brownsville,  Ohio ;  pastor  at  Newark,  Ohio,  for 
seven  years  ;  stated  supply  at  Wellsburg,  West  Virginia ; 
received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  from  that  of 
Washington,  June  14,  1864;  installed  pastor  of  the 
Second  Church,  Mercer,  June  15,  1864.  He  was  a 
delegate  of  the  Christian  Commission. 

(109.)  LUTHER  MARTIN  BELDEN. 

1863 . 

Mr.  Belden  was  born  at  Sandisfield,  Mass. ;  gradu- 
ated at  Washington  College,  in  1861 ;  studied  theology 
at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary;  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  April, 
1863  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  December 
14,  1864;  installed  pastor  of  Sturgeonville  and  West- 
minster. 

(110.)  JOHN  RICE. 

1849 . 

Mr.  Rice  was  born  at  Paisley,  Scotland  ;  graduated 
at  Glasgow ;  studied  theology  at  the  Seminary  of  the 
Associate  Reformed  Church,  Scotland ;  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Paisley,  August, 
1849 ;  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  from  that 
of  Saltsburg,  April  26, 1865  ;  stated  supply  of  Fairfield 
and  Sandy  Lake. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  401 

(111.)  HENRY  BRUIN  LAMBE. 

I860 . 

Mr.  Lambe  is  a  native  of  Ireland  ;  licensed  to  preach 
the  gosjDel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany  City,  Sep- 
tember, 1860  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  July 
11,  1866,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church  of  Mil- 
ledgeville,  Pa.;  released  from  his  charge  May  8,  1867  ; 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  June  26, 
1867.  Mr.  Lambe  was  a  chaplain  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  suffered  imprisonment  at  the  hands 
of  the  enemy  in  Texas. 

(112.)  JAMES  JUNIUS  MARKS,  D.  D. 

1835  . 

Dr.  Marks  is  the  son  of  the  late  General  William 
and  Alice  Anna  (Hanson)  Marks,  of  Alleghany  Coun- 
ty, Pa. ;  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1831  ; 
studied  theology  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary ; 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio, 
May,  1835  ;  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Palmyra, 
February,  1838  ;  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
October  23,  1866,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  Dr. 
Marks  was  chaplain  of  the  63d  Regiment  Pennsylva- 
nia Volunteers  during  the  War,  and  was  for  a  time  a 
prisoner  of  war  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

(113.)  ROBERT  STANSBURYYAN  CLEYE. 

1865  . 

Mr.  Van  Cleve  was  born  at  Beaver  Meadow,  Pa. ; 
graduated  at  Princeton  College  in  1863,  and  Princeton 
26 


402  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

Seminary  in  1866  ;  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  April,  I860  ;  ordained 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  December  14,  1866;  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Buffalo,  May  8,  1867  ;  pas- 
tor of  the  congregation  of  Westfield,  New  York. 

(114.)  JOHN  J.  GPJDLEY. 

1837  . 

Mr.  Gridlet  was  born  at  Chesterfield,  N.  H. ;  grad- 
uated at  the  Wesleyan  University ;  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  January 
14,  1837  ;  ordained  by  the  same,  June,  1840  ;  received 
into  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  May  8,  1867. 

(115.)  JAMES  JONES  SMYTH. 

1844 .. 

Mr.  Smyth  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Ireland.  He 
is  the  son  of  William  and  Jane  (Crawford)  Smyth.  He 
was  graduated  A.  B.,  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  in 
1839,  and  A.  M.,  at  Glasgow  University  in  1840,  and 
pursued  his  theological  studies  at  Glasgow  and  Edin- 
burgh. He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Winchester,  April  21,  1844 ;  ordained  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  East  Hanover,  April  15, 1849.  He  was  prin- 
cipal of  Winchester  Academy,  and  of  Petersburg  In- 
stitute in  Virginia,  for  many  years.  Afterwards  was 
pastor  at  Sussex  Court  House,  Virginia ;  stated  supply 
in  North  Carolina  ;  also  pastor  at  Greensboro,  North 
Carolina.  Afterwards  was  stated  supply  at  Shelbyville, 
Indiana  ;  at  the  present  time  stated  supply  at  Pleasant- 
ville  and  Concord,  Erie  Presbytery. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  403 

(116.)  DAVID  PATTON. 

1865 . 

Mr.  Patton  is  the  son  of  Archibald  and  Elizabeth 
S.  Patton,  and  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.  He 
graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1860,  was  a  student 
for  a  time  at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  and 
completed  his  theological  course  at  the  Reformed  Sem- 
inary at  Philadelphia.  After  this  he  was  in  the  Army 
of  the  United  States  for  upwards  of  three  years,  when 
he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Reformed  Presbytery,  on  the  19th  day  of  May,  1865. 
On  the  27th  day  of  June,  1866,  he  was  ordained  by  the 
same  Presbytery,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Cochranton 
and  Shenango  congregations.  On  the  25th  day  of 
September,  1867,  Mr.  Patton,  together  with  his  congre- 
gation, Cochranton,  were  received  under  the  care  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie. 


PART   III. 


HISTORICAL    NOTICES    OF   CHURCHES, 


CHURCHES, 


MOUNT  PLEASANT. 

This  church  is  in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  near  to  the 
present  town  of  Darlington.  It  was  probably  organized 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Edgar  Hughes  (1),  in  the  year  1798 
or  1799.  It  is,  moreover,  probably  the  first  church  that 
was  organized  within  the  ancient  bounds  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Erie.  Its  first  pastor  was  Mr.  Hughes,  in- 
stalled August  28, 1799,  in  connection  with  New  Salem. 
He  was  released  from  his  charge  of  Mount  Pleasant, 
November  19,  1840.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Wil- 
liam D.  Smith.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Arthur  B. 
Bradford,  who  was  released  from  his  charge  in  1845,  or 
1846.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  R.  S.  Morton  (80) , 
ordained  and  installed  June  14,  1848  ;  released  from 
his  charge  in  1851.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  Wat- 
son Johnston,  installed  in  1853,  released  from  his  charge 
in  1856  or  1857.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  W. 
Boyd.  The  present  pastor  elect  is  Rev.  Albert  Dil- 
worth.     It  is  now  under  the  care  of  Beaver  Presbytery. 

NEW  SALEM. 

This  was  one  of  the  early  churches.  Rev.  Thomas 
Edgar  Hughes  was  pastor  from   1799  to  1808.     After 


408  PKESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

this,  it  was  long  vacant.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Glasgow  was  in- 
stalled August  31,  1813  ;  died,  April  23,  1814.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Reed,  ordained  and  in- 
stalled April  11,  1821  ;  released  in  1860.  Rev.  D.  L. 
Dickey  is  now  pastor. 

YOUNGSTOWN,  OHIO. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  churches  within  what  was 
anciently  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  The  early  records 
are  lost.  It  is  probable  that  it  was  organized  about  the 
year  1800.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wick 
(2),  who  was  ordained  September  3,  1800.  He  was 
installed  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  in  the  summer  of  1801, 
having  been  settled  for  a  time  at  Neshannock.  He 
labored  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  Hopewell,  then  in 
Mercer  County,  Pa.  He  continued  to  be  pastor  of 
these  churches  until  his  death,  March  29,  1815.  The 
second  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Core,^  installed  pastor, 
June  25,  1817,  in  connection  with  Brookfield,  Ohio. 
He  was  released,  April  10,  1823,  after  a  successful  pas- 
torate of  six  years,  during  which  over  one  hundred 
were  added  to  the  church. 

After  Mr.  Core's  removal.  Rev.  Enoch  Bouton  sup- 
plied the  church  until  1826.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Nathan  Harned  (34),  who  labored  there  until 
1826.  In  1830,  Rev.  Ward  Stafford  was  installed  as 
pastor.  He  was  released  in  1837.  Rev.  C.  A.  Board- 
man  succeeded  Mr.  Stafford,  and  commenced  his  labors 
in  1838  or  1839.  He  terminated  his  labors  in  October 
1854.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Frederick  H.  Brown 
who  supplied  the  church  until  1859,  but  was  not  regu 

1  Afterwards  in  Clarion  Presbytery  ;  born,  1785;  licensed,  1816 
died,  May  17, 1854. 


CHURCHES.  409 

larly  installed.  On  November  9,  1859,  the  present  pas- 
tor, Rev.  Levi  B.  Wilson,  was  installed  as  pastor.  The 
old  people  of  the  church  speak  of  revivals  of  religion 
in  the  years  of  the  past.  In  later  years,  1858,  1862, 
and  1866,  were  years  of  the  power  of  the  Most  High. 

Previous  to  1831,  the  congregation  worshipped  in  a 
log  building.  In  1826,  or  1827,  a  brick  building  was 
commenced,  but  never  finished.  In  1831,  a  frame 
building  of  modest  pretensions  was  completed  and  oc- 
cupied. During  the  year  1866,  a  large,  commodious 
brick  structure  was  commenced,  that  will  soon  be  com- 
pleted. The  congregation,  at  the  division  of  the  church, 
adhered  to  the  branch  popularly  known  as  the  New 
School. 

HOPEWELL. 

This  church  is  in  Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  and  is  one 
of  the  earliest  churches  organized  in  the  bounds  of  the 
old  Presbytery  of  Erie.  The  date  of  its  organization 
is  not  now  known,  but  it  was  toward  the  close  of  the  last 
century.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wick  (2), 
who  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio,  September  3,  1800,  in  connection  with  Neshan- 
nock.  Mr.  Wick  was  pastor  until  his  death,  March 
29,  1815.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wood 
(10),  who  commenced  his  pastorate,  in  connection 
with  Neshannock,  March  11,  1816;  released,  June  25, 
1829.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Nesbit, 
who  was  ordained  and  installed,  October  7,  1829  ;  re- 
leased, October  6,  1840.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
Henry  Webber  (63)  ;  installed,  April  11,  1849  ;  re- 
leased, June  29,  1853.  Rev.  William  Nesbit  was  again 
installed  in  May,  1854 ;  released,  April  6,  1858.  The 
present  pastor,  Rev.  James  P.  Fulton,  was   installed 


410  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

May  28,  1807.     This  church  is  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver. 

BEAVER. 

This  cono^regation  was  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery  of  Erie,  at  a  very  early  day.  In  1808,  it  passed 
to  that  of  Beaver,  and  in  1854,  to  that  of  Alleghany 
City.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Ezekiel  Glasgow  ;  ^  or- 
dained and  installed,  August  31,  1813  ;  died,  April  23, 
1814  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  McLain, 
who  was  installed  April  7,  1824.  It  has  been  served 
successively  by  Rev.  A.  B.  Quay,  Rev.  B.  C.  Critchlow, 
Rev.  W.  G.  Taylor,  and  others,  as  stated  supplies.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  D.  P.  Lowary. 

COOL   SPRING. 

This  church  is  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  (3),  most  probably  in  the 
year  1800,  as  he  was  ordained  its  first  pastor,  Nov^ember 
19,  of  that  year.  This  was  in  connection  ^vith  the  church 
of  Salem.  Mr.  Tait  continued  to  preach  a  portion  of 
his  time  at  Cool  Spring,  until  1813,  when,  by  some  ar- 
rangement between  that  congregation  and  Mercer,  the 
people  of  Cool  Spring  agreed  to  worship  at  Mercer. 
and  Cool  Spring  became  practically  disbanded.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  1827,  when,  on  petition  of 
the  people  of  Cool  Spring,  the  church  was  reorganized.2 
On  the  24th  day  of  June,  1829,  Rev.  Ira  Condit  (24) 
was  installed  pastor  for  the  one  third  of  his  time.  This 
relatiou  continued  until   his  death,  October  24,  1836. 

1  Bom  in  Beaver  County,  1788:  Jefferson  College,  theology  with 
Dr.  McMillan;  licensed,  October  17,  1810. 

2  Min.  ii.  227. 


CHURCHES.  '  411 

Rev.  David  Waggoner  (54)  then  supplied  the  church 
for  a  short  time,  giving  them  one  third  of  his  time. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  G.  Wilson  (49),  in- 
stalled in  1842,  in  connection  with  Salem,  one  half  his 
time  at  each.  This  pastorate  continued  until  1850. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  John  W.  McCune  (82)  was 
ordained  and  installed  June  23,  1852,  in  connection 
with  Sandy  Lake ;  one  half  his  time  to  each.  At  the 
present  time,  he  gives  two  thirds  of  his  time  to  Cool 
Spring.  The  church  edifices  have  manifested  a  grad- 
ual improvement  in  architecture.  The  account  of  the 
first  building  has  been  given.  The  people  now  oc- 
cupy the  third  church  edifice,  a  comfortable  and  neat 
structure.  This  church  has  been  blessed  with  many 
revivals. 

SALEM. 

This  church  is  also  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  is 
first  known  as  Upper  Salem.  It  was  organized  in  1800. 
The  first  sermon  in  this  congregation  was  preached  on 
the  banks  of  the  Shenango,  near  where  Greenville  now 
stands.  Mr.  Tait  preached  the  first  Sabbath,  and  Mr. 
Stockton  (4)  the  next.  After  this,  preaching  was  en- 
joyed at  a  tent  near  the  site  of  the  present  Salem 
church.  At  the  organization,  J.  Stinson,  Robert  Mann 
and  Samuel  Williamson,  were  the  "first  ruling  elders. 
Mr.  Tait  was  ordained  the  first  pastor,  November  19 
1800,  in  connection  with  Cool  Spring. 

This  arrangement  continued  until  the  28th  of  June, 
when  Mr.  Tait  was  released,  giving  half  his  time  to 
Mercer.  In  June,  1813,  Mr.  Tait  relinquished  Cool 
Spring,  and  gave  a  portion  of  his  time  to  Salem,  until 
the  year  1826,  when  he  gave  the  whole  of  his  time  to 
Mercer.    On  the   13th  of  October,  1828,  Rev.  James 


412  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Alexander  (40)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
Salem,  in  connection  with  Greenville  and  Big  Bend. 
He  was  released  from  this  charge,  June  25, 1834. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1836,  Rev.  James  G.  Wilson 
(49)  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  in  connection 
with  Greenville.  He  was  released  in  1851.  Rev.  James 
H.  Callen  (75)  supplied  the  church  for  a  short  time* 
also.  Rev.  T.  P.  Johnston,  until  1857.  In  1858,  Rev. 
James  Coulter  (62)  supplied  it,  and  in  1859,  Rev.  David 
Grier  (83).  It  is  supplied  at  the  present  time  by  Rev. 
JohnW.  McCune  (82). 

MERCER,   FIRST. 

The  church  of  Mercer  was  organized  in  1804,  with 
twenty  members.  Rev.  Samuel  Tait  was  the  first  pas- 
tor. He  preached  but  a  portion  of  his  time  here,  until 
January,  1826,  when  he  gave  Mercer  the  whole  of  his 
time.  He  continued  the  pastor  until  his  death,  June  2, 
1841. 

The  second  pastor  was  Joseph  T.  Smith  (67).  He 
was  born  and  raised  in  Mercer,  and  ordained  and  in- 
stalled April  20,  1842.  He  was  released,  April  18, 
1849,  after  a  pastorate  of  seven  years.  The  third  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  Robert  S.  Morton  (80).  He  was  installed, 
September  10,  1851,  and  released,  September  14, 1852. 
The  fourth  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  F.  Samj^le  (86). 
He  was  ordained  and  installed,  October  18,  1853  ;  re- 
leased, May  7,  1856.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  John 
Ross  Findley  (92),  was  installed  April  29,  1857.  Many 
revivals  of  religion  have  rendered  beautiful  the  history 
of  this  church. 

The  first  place  of  worship  was  in  a  room  over  the  jail. 
After  some  time  a  brick  house  was  erected,  but  being 


CHURCHES.  •  413 

considered  unsafe,  was  abandoned  after  some  years. 
The  present  structure  was  erected  in  1830,  but  has 
since  been  remodeled  and  greatly  improved. 

MEADVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  and  was  proba- 
bly organized  in  1800.  Elisha  Macurdy  and  Joseph 
Stockton  (4)  had  preached  here  the  year  before.  The 
first  elders  w^ere  John  Cotton,  Robert  Stockton,  and  a 
third,  whose  name  has  passed  away.  Mr.  Stockton, 
then  in  his  twenty-first  year,  was  called  to  be  the  first 
pastor.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio, 
on  the  24th  of  June,  1801,  and  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  congregations  of  Meadville  and  Little  Sugar  Creek  ^ 
(now  Cochranton).  One  half  his  time  was  given  to  each. 
He  was  released  from  these  charges  June  27,  1810. 

The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Johnston  (14). 
He  was  installed,  October  15,  1811,  as  pastor  of  Mead- 
ville, Little  Sugar  Creek,  and  Conneaut  (now  Evans- 
burg).  This  relation  was  dissolved  April  2,  1817. 
The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Van  Liew  (30).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  August  22,  1821.  He  gave 
the  whole  of  his  time  to  Meadville,  and  was  released 
from  his  charge,  June  21,  1824.  The  fourth  pastor  was 
Rev.  Wells  Bushnell  (35).  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled June  22,  1826.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved .June  26,  1833.  The  fifth  pastor  was  Nathaniel 
West  (47),  installed  May  11,  1836;  released  from  his 
pastoral  charge,  June  26,  1838.  The  present  pastor  is 
John  Van  Liew  Reynolds,  D.  D.  (56)  ;  ordained  and 
installed  November  13,  1839.     Of  those  who  have  sus- 

1  This  church  connected  itself  with  the  Associate  Reformed  Church 
about  1820. 


414  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

tained  the  pastoral  relation  to  this  church,  besides  the 
present  incumbent,  one  only  survives  —  Dr.  Van  Liew. 
From  the  installation  of  Dr.  Reynolds  in  1839,  the 
session  remained  unbroken  for  twenty-five  years,  with- 
out increase  or  diminution.  At  the  division  of  the 
church  in  1838,  the  Meadville  church  was  divided, 
forming  a  second  church,  of  the  other  branch.  Of  this 
church,  Rev.  Richard  Craighead  has  long  been  the 
pastor. 

AMITY. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  and  Mercer  Counties,  and 
was  organized  probably  about  1800.  The  first  pastor 
was  Rev.  Robert  Lee  (5)  ;  ordained  and  installed,  June 
26,  1801,  in  connection  with  Rocky  Spring.^  He  was 
released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  July  14,  1807.  Afler 
this,  Rev.  John  Boyd  (11)  supplied  Amity  for  a  short 
time,  and  the  second  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  Ira  Con- 
dit  (24).  His  pastorate  extended  from  the  close  of 
1825  to  April  22,  1829,  when  he  was  released.  His 
salary  was  at  the  rate  of  three  hundred  dollars  a  year. 
He  served  this  church  for  the  one  third  of  his  time. 
After  this.  Rev.  Hezekiah  May  supplied  the  church  for 
one  year ;  after  him,  Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden  for  a 
year. 

The  next  regular  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Glenn  (44). 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Amity  and 
Mill  Creek,  one  third  of  his  time  at  each,  on  the  12th 
day  of  September,  1832.  He  was  released  from  the 
charge  of  Amity,  April  3,  1850,  after  a  pastorate  of 
eighteen  years. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Meade  Satterfield,  son  of 

1  This  church  connected  itself,  at  an  early  day,  with  the  Associate, 
or  Associate  Reformed  Church. 


CHURCHES.  415 

Eev.  James  Satterfield  (6),  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  about  the  year  1850,  in  connection  with  Harris- 
ville.  He  preached  at  Amity  about  six  years,  when  he 
was  called  to  his  rest  above.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
John  F.  Boyd.  He  was  installed  about  the  year  1856, 
and  continued  pastor  ten  years,  being  released  June 
26,  1866.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  W.  D.  Patton, 
commencing  his  labors  about  the  close  of  the  year  1866. 

This  church  has  had  an  exciting  history.  Always  in 
advance  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  they  hesitated  not  to 
enter  their  protest  against  the  acts  of  Presbytery  and 
General  Assembly,  when  not  sufficiently  awake  to  the 
subject. 

This  congregation  worshipped  at  first  in  the  green 
wood,  with  a  simple  tent  for  the  minister.  They  would 
sit  in  the  beating  rain  and  even  snow,  during  the  time 
of  service  and  not  become  impatient.  On  one  oc- 
casion during  communion  services,  a  rain-storm  com- 
menced that  bid  defiance  to  umbrellas,  and  literally 
flooded  the  ground  until  the  water  was  several  inches 
deep.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  of  round  logs, 
about  twenty-two  feet  square,  and  built  in  a  day.  The 
next  was  of  hewn  logs,  thirty  feet  square.  This  house 
burned  down.  It  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  The 
present  house  is  a  frame  forty-five  by  fifty-five  feet,  built 
at  a  cost  of  $1,300. 

This  church  has  been  blessed  with  numerous  revivals. 
In  the  early  days  they  had  the  "  falling  exercise,"  when 
the  people  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  leave  the 
church  or  go  to  their  homes.  Within  the  past  few 
years  it  has  been  greatly  blessed.  Amity  is  now  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 


416  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

NESHANNOCK. 

This  congregation  is  in  Mercer  and  Lawrence  coun- 
ties, Pa.  It  was  organized  about  the  year  1800.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wick  (2),  ordained  Sep- 
tember 3,  1800,  in  connection  with  Hopewell.  He  was 
released  from  his  charge  June  30,  1801.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  James  Satterfield  (6),  an  original 
member  of  Erie  Presbytery.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1802,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  this  congre- 
gation in  connection  with  that  of  Moorfield.  The 
first  elders  were  William  Jackson,  Thomas  Scott  and 
Robert  Stevenson.  Mr.  Satterfield  was  the  pastor 
until  the  beginning  of  the  year  1813.  In  July  of  that 
year,  Rev.  William  Matthews  took  charge  of  the 
church  and  continued  to  serve  it  until  1815.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Wood  (10).  Mr. 
Wood  commenced  his  labors  March  11,  1816.  He 
labored  at  Hopewell  in  connection  with  Neshannock, 
until  July  1,  1828,  when  he  give  all  his  time  to  the  lat- 
ter. He  was  released  January  1,  1837,  after  a  pastor- 
ate of  twenty-one  years. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Absalom  McCready  (36). 
He  was  installed  October  14,  1839,  and  released  from 
his  charge  in  1857.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert 
Dickson,  installed  1858,  released  from  his  charge 
1867.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  John  M.  Mealy. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  of  round  logs,  thirty 
feet  square,  with  a  hole  in  the  centre  of  the  roof  through 
which  the  smoke  ascended.  The  next  building  was  of 
hewn  logs,  thirty  feet  by  seventy.  In  1839,  the  present 
fine  frame  building  was  erected.  .  Many  revivals  have 
blessed  this  church,  the  most  important  in  the  winter  of 
1866-67. 


CHURCHES.  417 


FAIRFIELD. 


This  congregation  is  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  in  the  Presbytery.  It  was  organized 
in  September,  1799,  by  Elisha  Macurdy  and  Joseph 
Stockton.  The  first  elders  were  Daniel  Axtell,  David 
Condit,  and  Ithiel  Dodd.  These  men  came  from  Wash- 
ington County,  Pa.,  and  arrived  with  their  families  at  the 
place  of  their  destination  on  Saturday  evening.  They 
camped  out,  and  on  the  Sabbath  morning  held  the  first 
prayer-meeting,  read  a  sermon,  and  catechized  the  chil- 
dren. That  prayer-meeting  has  been  kept  up  to  the 
present  day,  and  is  blessing  that  congregation  still.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wylie  (7).  He  was  or- 
dained by  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  April  13,  1802.  He 
was  released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  December  5, 
1804.  He  had  preached  at  Upper  and  Lower  Sandy,^ 
in  connection  with  Fairfield.  In  1804,  the  number  of 
communicants  was  twenty-six.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs  (18).  He  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  Fairfield  and  Mill  Creek,  October  21,  1807. 
He  was  released  from  this  charge  April  8,  1812. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Ira  Condit  (24).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed,  November  8,  1814,  in  con- 
nection with  Big  Sugar  Creek.  He  was  released  by 
death,  October  24, 1836,  after  a  pastorate  of  twenty-two 
years. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  David  Waggoner  (54). 
He  was  ordained  and  installed,  July  11,  1838,  in  con- 
nection with  Georgetown.  He  was  released  from  his 
charge.  May  4,  1853.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James 
M.  Shields  (88),  ordained  August  9,  1855.      He  was 

1  Now  Georgetown  and  Mill  Creek. 
27 


418  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

released  February  23,  1864.     Rev.  John  Eice  (110)  is 
at  present  stated  supply. 

The  "  falHng  exercise "  was  experienced  in  the 
early  days  of  this  church.  Many  revivals  of  religion 
were  enjoyed.  On  one  occasion  at  a  singing-school, 
the  singing  was  abandoned,  Mr.  Condit  sent  for,  and 
the  whole  night  spent  in  prayer.  A  church  of  the 
other  branch  was  at  one  time  organized  from  this  con- 
gregation and  that  of  Georgetown. 

UPPER  SANDY,  now  GEORGETOWN. 

This  church  is  also  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.  It  was 
organized  by  Elisha  Macurdy  and  Joseph  Stockton  in 
1799.  The  first  elders  were  William  Byers  and 
Alexander  McCracken.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
William  Wylie,  settled  April  13, 1802,  released  Decem- 
ber 5,  1804.  After  this  Mr.  Stockton,  pastor  at  Mead- 
ville,  supplied  them  one  third  of  the  time  for  one  year  ; 
Mr.  Johnston  also  supplied  them  for  one  year.  The 
elders  removing  about  this  time,  the  organization  be- 
came extinct.  About  the  year  1814,  it  was  reorganized 
under  the  name  of  Georgetown,  when  Mr.  Condit  be- 
came their  pastor,  ordained  and  installed,  in  connection 
with  Fairfield,  November  8,  1814.  Mr.  Condit  was  re- 
leased by  the  Master,  and  entered  into  rest,  October  24, 
1836.  Mr.  Waggoner  was  the  next  pastor.  He  was 
installed  July  11,  1838  ;  released  from  his  charge.  May 
4,  1853.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  M.  Shields, 
ordained  and  installed,  August  9,  1855  ;  released  from 
his  charge,  February  28,  1864.  In  May,  1864,  Mr.  Wag- 
goner returned,  and  was  installed  again  as  pastor,  for 
two  thirds  of  his  time,  Greenfield  taking  the  remaining 
third. 


CHURCHES.  419 

In  Mr.  Condit's  time  this  church  was  blessed  with  an 
interesting  revival  of  religion.  At  a  later  day  there 
was  a  revival  in  1841,  another  in  1843,  and  a  much 
more  extensive  one  in  1848.  During  the  last  year 
there  were  added  to  the  church  about  fifty  persons. 

LOWER  SANDY,  now  MILL  CREEK. 

This  congregation  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.  It 
was  organized  about  the  same  time  with  Upper  Sandy 
and  Fairfield,  namely,  about  1800.  Mr.  Wylie  was 
the  first  pastor  :  ordained  and  installed,  April  13,  1802  ; 
released  from  his  charge  of  the  united  congregations  of 
Ufipuer  and  Lower  Sandy  and  Fairfield,  December  5, 
1804.  At  the  first  organization  of  the  churches,  the 
same  session  was  appointed  for  both,  but  on  the  11th 
of  March,  1802,  it  was  resolved  to  have  a  separate  ses- 
sion for  each. 

Mr.  Riggs  was  the  second  pastor :  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  Mill  Creek  (Lower  Sandy)  and  Fair- 
field, October  21,  1807 ;  released  from  his  charge, 
April  8,  1812.  About  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate 
the  name  of  the  congregation  was  changed  to  JMill 
Creek,  the  present  name.  In  1810,  there  were  nine- 
teen members. 

There  is  a  chasm  in  the  history  of  this  church,  that 
cannot  be  filled  up.  It  seems  to  have  become  disor- 
ganized, the  members  probably  worshipping  at  Fair- 
field and  Sugar  Creek.  The  late  Rev.  Robert  Glenn 
records,  that  "  The  church  of  Mill  Creek  was  organized 
in  the  fall  of  1827,  by  Rev.  Ira  Condit  and  Ezekiel  Con- 
dit/  Elder,  at  the  house  of  John  Gorden,  there  being 
as  yet  no  meeting-house.     By  a  vote  of  the  congrega- 

^  Brother  of  the  former. 


420  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 

tion,  the  two  oldest  members  were  chosen  elders, 
namely,  John  Gorden  and  James  Adams.  In  a  short 
time  after,  the  congregation  feeling  the  necessity  of 
havino-  a  house  to  worship  in,  and  not  being  able  to 
hire  a  workman  to  build  one,  resolved  to  build  a  house 
with  their  own  hands,  there  being  several  of  them  ac- 
quainted with  the  use  of  tools."  The  work  was  accom- 
plished with  little  expense  save  their  own  labor. 

Under  its  reorganization,  Robert  Glenn  (44)  was  the 
first  pastor.  He  was  ordained  September  12, 1832,  in 
connection  with  Amity  and  Sandy  Lake,  giving  one 
third  of  his  time  to  each.  He  served  Mill  Creek  for 
one  third  of  his  time  until  September,  1850,  and  one 
half  his  time  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He 
died  September  6,  1857,  after  a  pastorate  of  twenty-five 
years. 

The  next  pastor  was  John  Dagg  Howey  (94).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  in  connection  with 
Sugar  Creek,  September  21,  1859 ;  released  from  his 
charge  April  26,  1865. 

SLATE   LICK. 

This  congregation  is  in  Armstrong  County,  Pa. 
When  it  was  organized  is  now  uncertain.  Its  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  John  Boyd  (8).  He  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  pastor,  in  connection  with  Union,  on 
the  26th  day  of  June,  1802 ;  released  from  his  charge, 
April  17,  1810.  For  nearly  five  years,  the  church 
was  dependent  on  supplies.  The  second  pastor  was 
Rev.  John  Redick  (26).  He  was  ordained  and  installed 
over  the  same  charge  as  his  predecessor,  September  28, 
1815,  and  labored  in  the  same  field  until  the  close  of  the 
year  1848,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  old  age.    He 


CHURCHES.  421 

died  July  11, 1850,  after  a  pastorate  of  thirty-three  years 
in  Slate  Lick  and  Union.  He  was  succeeded  in  Slate 
Lick  by  Rev.  William  F.  Kean,  who  was  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  Slate  Lick  and  Freeport,  in  the 
spring  of  1849.  He  was  released  from  the  charge  of 
Slate  Lick  in  June,  1864.  The  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Thomas  C.  Anderson,  was  ordained  and  installed  Octo- 
ber 17,  1865. 

UNIOX  (Armstrong  County). 

The  history  of  this  church  is  almost  identical  with 
that  of  Slate  Lick.  Probably  organized  about  the  same 
time,  it  continued  to  enjoy  the  labors  of  the  same  pas- 
tor, until  the  close  of  Father  Redick's  ministry.  About 
the  year  1857,  Rev.  David  Hall  became  the  pastor  in 
connection  with  Brady's  Bend.  He  was  released  from 
his  charge  in  1867. 

pymatuni:n^g,  beula,  and  trumbull. 

These  congregations  constituted  the  original  charge 
of  Rev.  Benjamin  Boyd,  and  all  seem  to  have  become 
extinct.  They  were  situated  near  the  boundary  line 
of  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania.  JMr.  Boyd  was  installed 
over  them  November  12,  1806,  and  was  dismissed  in 
1809.  These  churches  seem  to  have  declined  soon 
after.  The  names  of  Beula  and  Trumbull  do  not  appear 
on  the  roll  after  the  year  1810  ;  and  Pymatuning  is  not 
mentioned  after  1813.  The  membership  was  probably 
drawn  to  churches  springing  up  in  more  favorable  lo- 
calities in  the  neighborhood. 


422  PRESBYTERY    OF   ERIE. 


BULL   CREEK. 

This  congregation  was  a  portion  of  the  original 
charge  of  Rev.  Abraham  Boyd  (9),  who  was  its  first 
pastor.  There  is  a  tradition  amongst  the  old  members 
of  the  church,  that  it  was  organized  as  early  as  1793  or 
1794.  Mr.  Boyd  himself  believed  it  to  be  the  oldest 
church  west  of  the  Alleghany  River.  It  is  located  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Tarentum,  Pa.  Mr.  Boyd  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  this  church,  in  con- 
nection with  Middlesex,  on  the  17th  of  June,  1802.  Dr. 
McMillan  was  present,  and  preached  the  sermon  on  the 
occasion.  Mr.  Boyd  continued  to  be  the  pastor  until 
the  spring  of  1833,  preaching  his  farewell  sermon  June 
30  of  that  year.  This  congregation  has  furnished  four 
ministers  of  the  gospel. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Samuel  Caldwell,  installed 
October,  1834.  The  next  minister  was  Rev.  J.  Watson 
Johnston,  who  was  stated  supply  for  one  year.  In  the 
fall  of  1840,  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Kerr  was  installed  as 
pastor.  He  was  released  by  death,  October  29,  1847. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  M.  Smith.  The  next 
was  Rev.  William  G.  Taylor,  installed  January  19, 
1857  ;  released  from  his 'charge.  May  1,  1861. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Jackson  was  the  next  pastor,  ordained 
and  installed  June  23,  1863.  Mr.  Jackson  was  pastor 
but  a  short  time.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  John  Ful- 
ton Boyd,  a  relative  of  the  first  pastor,  was  installed 
November  19,  1866,  for  two  thirds  of  his  time.  This 
congregation  worshipped  for  several  of  the  first  years 
of  its  existence  in  a  grove.  The  first  house  of  worship 
was  erected  in  1801. 


CHURCHES.  423 


MIDDLESEX. 

This  too  is  one  of  the  early  churches  in  the  history 
of  the  Erie  Presbytery.  Abraham  Boyd  was  installed 
as  its  first  pastor  June  17,  1802  ;  released  from  his 
charge  in  1817.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Reid 
Bracken  (19),  installed  September  28,  1820;  released 
from  his  charge  in  1832.  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnston  was  pas- 
tor three  or  four  years.  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Kerr  was 
pastor  until  his  death,  October  29,  1847,  after  a  pastor- 
ate of  seven  years.  Rev.  Ephraim  Ogden,  the  present 
pastor,  was  installed  in  1848  or  1849. 

MOUNT  NEBO. 

The  name  of  this  church  first  appears  on  the  min- 
utes in  1805.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Reid  Brack- 
en (19).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  April  20,  1808.  He  continued  to  minister 
to  this  charge  until  1844,  nearly  thirty-seven  years,  and 
only  resigned  through  infirmity.  Rev.  Lemuel  F.  Leake 
was  pastor  in  1847  and  1848.  Rev.  Alexander  Cunning- 
ham (65)  was  pastor  from  1853  to  1861.  The  present 
pastor.  Rev.  William  P.  Harvison,  commenced  his  la- 
bors in  1864.  The  church  is  now  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 

PLAi:tT. 

This  church  was  long  connected  with  Mount  Nebo, 
in  the  support  of  a  pastor.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  Reid  Bracken  (19)  :  ordained  and  installed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  20,  1808;  released  from  his 
charge,  November  7,  1819.     The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 


424  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

John  Moore,  installed  in  1828 ;  released  from  his  charge, 
April  5,  1831.  Rev.  L.  R.  McAboy  was  pastor  until 
1859.  The  last  pastor,  Rev.  John  W.  Potter,  was  or- 
dained and  installed  in  1864;  died,  1866.  The  church 
is  now  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany 
City. 

POLAND,  OHIO. 

This  church  is  in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  and  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon.  Synod  of 
Wheeling.  It  is  said  to  have  been  organized  May  21, 
1802,  by  Rev.  Wm.  Wick,  by  direction  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Nicholas  Pittinger 
(15),  ordained,  October  24.  1824,  and  installed  as  pas- 
tor, in  connection  with  Westfield,  Pa.,  one  half  his 
time  in  each  congregation.  He  was  released  from  his 
charge,  March  20,  1810. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Wright,  ordained 
and  installed,  June  26,  1816,  in  connection  with  West- 
field.  He  was  released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1832.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  W. 
Scott,^  ordained  and  installed,  April  3,  1834,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver  ;  released  from  his  charge,  April 
13,  1836.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Edwin  H.  Nevin, 
installed,  June  25,  1839  ;  released,  April  20,  1841.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  Joseph  Kerr,  installed  November 
27,  1843  ;  released,  1854.  The  present  pastor.  Rev. 
Algernon  Sydney  MacMaster,  D.  D.,  was  installed  No- 
vember, 1854. 

The  people  worshipped  first  in  the  grove,  then  in  a 
log-house,  then  in  a  frame.  In  1857,  a  fine  brick  edi- 
fice was  erected.  The  church  has  had  its  troubles,  yet 
can  say,  "  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us." 

1  Rev.  J.  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  late  President  of  Washington  College,  Pa. 


CHURCHES.  425 


WESTFIELD. 

This  church  is  in  Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  and  at  pres- 
ent under  the  care  of  the  Presbyter}^  of  Beaver.  It 
was  organized  in  the  former  part  of  the  year  1803,^  by 
Rev.  Thomas  E.  Hughes,  by  direction  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie.  The  first  elders  were  George  Baird,  John 
Hunter,  and  John  Clark.  The  first  communion  service 
was  held  in  1803,  by  Mr.  Plughes  and  Mr.  Wick  (2). 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Nicholas  Pittinger  (15).  He 
first  began  to  preach  in  this  congregation  in  the  autumn 
of  1803,  and  brought  his  family  out  the  following  spring. 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie  on  the  24th  day  of  October,  1804,  in  connection 
with  Poland,  Ohio,  one  half  his  time  in  each.  Difficul- 
ties having  arisen  in  the  congregation,  he  was  released 
from  his  charge,  September  13,  1809.  The  church  was 
then  vacant  for  nearly  six  years.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  James  Wright,  ordained  and  installed  June  26, 
1816,  in  connection  with  Poland.  This  connection  con- 
tinued until  1831,  when  Westfield  called  Mr.  Wright 
the  whole  of  his  time.  He  served  Westfield  until  Jan- 
uary 12,  1842,  when,  on  account  of  infirmity,  he  re- 
signed his  charge.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1843,  he 
entered  into  his  rest,  and  was  interred  near  the  church 
where  he  had  preached  the  Word  for  so  many  years. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Algernon  Sydney  MacMas- 
ter,  D.  D.  He  was  installed,  April  12,  1843,  for  the 
whole  of  his  time.  At  his  own  request,  he  was  released 
from  his  pastoral  charge,  November  9,  1854. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Scott.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver, 

1  Dr.  Dilworth. 


426  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

September  8, 1857  ;  released  from  his  charge,  June  19, 
1860. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  William  M.  Taylor,  was 
raised  in  the  bounds  of  the  congregation,  and  was  or- 
dained and  installed  June  12,  1861. 

At  the  time  of  its  organization,  there  were  but  twenty- 
two  members;  there  were,  in  1867,  two  hundred  and 
thirty-six.  Numerous  revivals  have  been  enjoyed.  The 
"falling  exercise"  was  noticed  to  some  extent.  The 
first  place  of  preaching  was  the  grove.  Walter  and 
George  Clark  gave  each  an  acre  of  ground  for  church 
purposes.  Here  a  log-house  was  erected.  Afterwards 
a  frame  building  was  erected,  that  served  urtil  1830, 
when  a  substantial  brick  edifice  was  erected.  This  gave 
place  recently  to  the  fine  structure  in  which  the  people 
now  worship.  To  this  people  the  lines  have  fallen  in 
pleasant  places.  It  was  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie  until  1808,  when  the  Presbytery  of  Beaver  was 
erected. 

PLAIXGROVE. 

This  congregation  is  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
probably  organized  between  1796  and  1800.  The  first 
elders  were  William  McNeel  and  Joseph  Campbell. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Wood  (10).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Plaingrove 
and  Center,  November  3,  1802,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie.  Dr.  McMillan  was  present,  and  by  invitation, 
delivered  the  charges  to  the  pastor  and  people.  He 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  Plaingrove, 
October  7,  1816.  During  his  pastorate,  there  were 
cases  of  the  "  falling  exercise." 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Munson  (28).  He 
was  ordained   and   installed   as   pastor,    February  28, 


CHURCHES.  427 

1818.  He  was  released  February  5,  1818.  The  pres- 
ent pastor,  Eev.  Robert  B.  Walker,  D.  D.,  was  ordained 
and  installed  April  2,  1839.  The  church  had  at  that 
time  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six. 
This  church  has  been  blessed  with  many  revivals.  It 
is  now  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 

CENTER. 

This  church  has  much  the  same  history  as  Plain- 
grove.  First  pastor,  Rev.  Wm.  Wood ;  installed,  Novem- 
ber 3, 1802  ;  released  from  his  charge,  August  24,  1808. 

The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Munson,  ordained 
and  installed  February  25,  1818;  released,  June  28, 
1859,  after  a  pastorate  of  forty-one  years.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  W.  W.  McKinney,  who  was  installed  in 
1861 ;  pastoral  relation  dissolved  in  June,  1865.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  S.  A.  Hughes,  installed  on  Tues- 
day preceding  the  first  Sabbath  of  November,  1866.  It 
is  also  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 

UPPER  GREENFIELD,  afterwards  MIDDLE  BROOK. 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest  churches  organized  in 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  had  the  first  church  edifice 
erected  in  the  county.^  It  was  organized  in  the  year 
1801,  by  Elisha  Macurdy  and  Joseph  Stockton.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Patterson  (13).  He  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor,  in  connection  with  Lower 
Greenfield,  or  North  East,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
on  the  1st  September,  1803.  The  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  April  22,  1807.  The  next  year  it  appears  on 
the  minutes  as  Middlebrook. 

1  Miss  Sanford's  History,  171. 


428  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

For  the  next  twenty  years,  this  congregation  appears 
to  have  been  dependent  on  supplies  sent  by  the  Pres- 
bytery. The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Absalom  McCready 
(36),  who  was  ordained  and  installed  on  the  14th  of 
September,  1826,  serving  this  church  in  connection 
with  Union  and  Beaverdam.  He  was  released  from  the 
charge  of  Middlebrook,  September  11,  1833. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  village  of  Wattsburg  had 
sprung  up  in  the  neighborhood,  and  in  the  year  1833  a 
church  was  organized  there  from  the  membership  of 
Middlebrook,  and  from  that  time  it  began  to  decline. 
From  1846  to  1848,  Rev.  Pierce  Chamberlain  (38) 
frequently  preached  ■  there  ;  but  it  continued  to  decline, 
until  April  30,  1859,  when  a  committee  of  Presbytery 
of  the  other  branch  dissolved  the  church  and  attached 
its  members  to  Wattsburg.  It  was  the  second  church 
organized  in  Erie  County,  and  the  first  to  erect  a  church 
edifice.  An  account  of  this  edifice  is  given  in  another 
place.  It  was  standing  a  few  years  ago,  but  in  the  last 
stages  of  dilapidation.  The  church  organization  and 
the  old  building  decayed  together,  and  soon  the  very 
place  where  the  people  worshipped  God  for  sixty  years, 
will  have  been  forgotten.  Thus  the  rushing  hosts  of 
the  present  trample  over  the  sacred  memorials  of  the 
past. 

HILANDS. 

This  church,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pittsburgh, 
once  owed  allegiance  to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century.  Rev.  John  An- 
drews, editor  of  the  ''  Pittsburgh  Recorder,"  and  Rev. 
N.  R.  Snowden,  preached  there.  It  was  probably  or- 
ganized in  1800.  Rev.  Robert  Patterson  (13)  acted  as 
stated  supply  from   1807  to  1833.     The  first   regular 


CHURCHES.  429 

tor  was  Rev.  Joseph  Reed,  who  was  installed  in 
183-4;  released  in  1839.  In  1840,  Rev.  J.  Watson 
Johnston  was  installed  as  pastor ;  released  in  1849. 
Rev.  James  R.  Smith  was  installed  as  pastor  in  October, 
1851 ;  released  in  1854.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  M. 
L.  Wortman,  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  in 
January,  1859,  in  connection  with  the  church  of  Long 
Island.  At  the  present  time,  the  whole  of  Mr.  Wort- 
man's  time  is  given  to  the  Hilands  church.  The  name 
is  derived  from  Robert  Hilands,  one  of  the  prominent 
elders  of  the  church,  now  gone  to  rest.  It  is  now  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany  City. 

LOWER  GREENFIELD,  now  NORTH  EAST. 

This  congregation  is  on  the  Lake  Shore,  in  Erie 
County,  Pa.  It  was  organized  by  Elisha  Macurdy  and 
Joseph  Stockton,  in  1801.  The  church  was  organized 
in  the  woods,  and  this  continued  to  be  the  place  of  wor- 
ship for  some  time.  The  first  pastor  was  Robert  Pat- 
terson (13),  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  September  1,  1803,  for  one  third  of  his  time ; 
released  from  his  pastoral  charge,  April  22,  1807. 
There  was  a  long  period  succeeding  this  without  a  pas- 
tor. Rev.  John  McPherrin  (16)  supplied  them  for  six 
months  in  1812.  Then  Rev.  Johnston  Eaton  (20)  sup- 
plied them  one  fourth  of  his  time  in  1815-16.  In  1818, 
Rev.  Phineas  Camp  (29)  supplied  for  a  time;  then 
Judah  Ely,  a  licentiate,  for  a  time. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Giles  Doolittle  (33).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
April  14, 1825  ;  released  from  his  charge  September  14, 
1832.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  W.  A.  Adair  (46).  He 
was  ordained  November  7,  1863 ;   released  from  his 


430  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 

charge  in  1837.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Nathaniel 
West  (47).  His. pastorate  extended  from  June,  1838,  to 
July  17, 1841.  Rev.  Miles  Doolittle  served  from  1842  to 
1844.  Then  Rev.  Samuel  Montgomery  in  1844;  then 
Rev.  Mr.  Paine  in  1848  ;  then  Rev.  Mr.  Cochran  in  1850  ; 
then  Rev.  D.  D.  Gregory  in  1852  ;  then  Rev.  A.  H.  Car- 
rier in  1859.  Mr.  Carrier  was  succeeded  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  T.  B.  Hudson.  At  the  division  of  the  church 
in  1838,  this  church  adhered  to  "  the  other  branch." 


SCRUBGRASS. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  and  at  pres- 
ent under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany.  It 
was  organized  in  1802  or  1803.  The  first  elders  were 
John  Lowrie,  father  of  Hon.  Walter  Lowrie,  senior  Sec- 
retary of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  John  Craw- 
ford, and  another,  whose  name  is  illegible  on  the  manu- 
script. The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Johnston  (14). 
He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  October  19,  1803.  His  charge  was  Scrubgrass 
and  Bear  Creek.^  This  was  a  most  successful  pastor- 
ate. A  wonderful  work  of  Divine  grace  attended  Mr. 
Johnston's  labors.  He  was  released  from  his  pastoral 
charge  January  2,  1811. 

Mr.  Johnston  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs 
(18),  who  was  installed  April  6,  1814 ;  released  from 
his  pastoral  charge  April  2,  1834. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  R.  Agnew.  He  was 
installed  April  3,  1838  ^  pastoral  relation  dissolved 
October  21,  1845.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Henry.     He  was  ordained  and  installed  November  10, 

1  Bear  Creek  mauy  years  ago  became  connected  with  the  Associate 
Reformed  Church. 


CHURCHES.  431 

1847  ;  relation  dissolved,  November  5,  1856.  The  pres- 
ent pastor  is  Rev.  J.  R.  Coulter,  who  was  ordained  and 
installed  August  25,  1857.  This  church  has  been  un- 
der the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany  since  the 
year  1820.  It  has  furnished  ten  ministers  of  the  gos- 
pel :  1  namely,  John  Redick  (26),  John  Coulter,  Cyrus 
C.  Riggs,  D.  D.  (son  of  one  of  its  pastors),  Thomas  W. 
Kerr,  Thomas  S.  Leason,  William  B.  Stewart,  Samuel 
McAnderson,  D.  D.,  Samuel  Williams,  Thomas  C.  An- 
derson, and  M.  L.  Anderson.  Another  member  of  the 
church,  James  F.  Craig,  died  whilst  a  theological  student. 
The  first  church  edifice  was  of  logs,  afterwards  en- 
larged by  cutting  out  one  side  and  adding  a  shed. 
Afterwards  a  frame  building  was  erected,  and  at  a  late 
date  the  present  edifice,  which  is  of  stone. 

SLIPPERY  ROCK. 

This  congregation  is  in  Beaver  County,  and  was 
probably  organized  in  1801  or  1802.  In  the  records  of 
Presbytery  in  1802,  it  is  reported  as  able  to  support  a 
pastor,  in  connection  with  New  Castle. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Alexander  Cook  (12).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
June  22,  1803.  This  relation  was  dissolved  June  14, 
1809.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Sample,  or- 
dained and  installed  October  23,  1810  ;  released,  1834. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  B.  C.  Critchlow,  ordained  and 
installed  September  5,  1838  ;  released  from  his  charge, 
February  18,  1845.  Rev.  James  S.  Henderson,  or- 
dained and  installed  October  22,  1845  ;  released,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1850.     Rev.  A.  S.  Biblingsley,  installed  second 

1  Dr.  Young  states  that  twenty  ministers  have  been  licensed,  who 
were  brought  up  in  this  church. 


432  PKESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Tuesday  of  January,  1854 ;  released,  December  24, 
1856  ;  Rev.  Henry  Webber  (So),  installed  June  10, 
1862;  released,  January  11,  1865.  The  present  pastor. 
Rev.  R.  S.  Morton  (80),  was  installed  February  21, 
1862.  It  is  now  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Beaver. 

LOWER  NESHANNOCK,  now  NEW  CASTLE. 

This  congregation  is  in  Lawrence  County,  Pa.  It 
was  organized  about  the  same  time  as  Slippery  Rock^ 
and  with  it  constituted  a  pastoral  charge  for  nearly 
forty  years.  Rev.  Alexander  Cook  was  the  first  pastor, 
ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June 
22,  1803 ;  released  from  his  charge,  June  14,  1809. 
The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Sample,  ordained 
and  installed  October  23,  1810 ;  released  from  his 
charge,  1837.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Wells  Bush- 
nell,  installed  1839  ;  pastoral  relation  dissolved,  June 
29,  1853.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  E.  E.  Swift,  in- 
stalled, September  27, 1854 ;  pastoral  relation  dissolved, 
February  19,  1861.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Joseph 
S.  Grimes,  installed  July  9,  1861  ;  released  from  his 
charge,  September  27,  1865.  The  present  pastor.  Rev. 
D.  X.  Junkin,  D.  D.,  was  installed  September  13,  1866. 

The  ground  on  which  New  Castle  now  stands  was 
originally  occupied  by  John  Wilson,  Joseph,  Isaac,  and 
John  Thompson,  and  J.  C.  Stewart.  This  was  about 
the  year  1800.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1802,  by  John 
Carlisle  Stewart.  The  church  was  organized  either 
that  year  or  the  following,  as  the  first  pastor  was  in- 
stalled in  1803.  The  congregation  at  first  worshipped 
in  the  woods,  around  a  tent  that  stood  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  present  town-plot,  but  then  outside  the 


CHURCHES.  433 

original  plot.  They  afterwards  built  a  small  log-house 
near  to  the  tent,  but  in  a  thicket  through  which  paths 
had  to  be  mown,  in  the  midst  of  the  thick  bushes.  This 
cabin  was  burned  down,  when  a  hewed  log-house  was 
erected  near  the  old  site.  This  was  occupied  until  a 
brick  house  was  built,  that  is  now  occupied  as  a  brew- 
ery. Finally,  the  present  comfortable  structure  was 
erected.  The  church  is  now  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver. 

COXCORD  (Butler  County,  Pa.). 

This  church  was  organized  somewhere  between  1803 
and  1805.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  John  McPher- 
rin  (16).  He  continued  his  pastorate  until  his  death, 
February  10,  1822.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John 
Coulter,  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Alleghany,  September  10,  1823,  in  connection  with 
Butler  and  Muddy  Creek.  He  was  released  from  his 
charge  in  the  spring  of  1864,  after  a  pastorate  of  nearly 
forty-one  years.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  J.  H.  Mar- 
shall, was  installed  in  October,  1865. 

The  congregation  worshipped  first  in  a  small  log- 
house,  with  earthen  floor  and  split  log  seats,  with  an 
old-fashioned  wood  fire.  The  second  church  edifice  was 
also  of  logs,  and  was  thirty  feet  square.  It  was  after- 
wards enlarged  by  the  addition  of  thirty  feet  to  its 
length.  In  1838,  the  present  brick  structure  was 
erected.  During  Mr.  Coulter's  ministry,  many  seasons 
of  refreshing  were  enjoyed.  The  most  remarkable  of 
these  was  in  the  winter  of  1857  and  1858,  when  sixty 
were  added  to  the  church.  It  is  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 
28 


434  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 


MUDDY  CREEK. 


This  church  is  also  in  Butler  County,  Pa.,  in  the 
Presbytery  of  Alleghany.  In  1803,  Muddy  Creek  is 
reported  to  Synod  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  as  able  to 
support  a  pastor  in  connection  with  Concord.  In  1806, 
Mr.  McPherrin  is  reported  as  pastor  of  Concord,  Mud- 
dy Creek,  and  Harmony.^  At  the  organization  of  the 
church  of  Butler  in  1813,  Muddy  Creek  became  dis- 
banded. The  church  was  reorganized  in  1823,  when 
Rev.  John  Coulter  became  pastor.  He  was  released 
from  his  charge  in  1850.  In  1853,  Rev.  Alexander 
Cunningham  (65)  became  pastor ;  released  from  his 
charge,  August,  1855.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
Samuel  Williams,  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany  in  1857. 

During  the  first  two  years  of  Mr.  Coulter's  ministry, 
the  people  worshipped  in  the  woods  in  summer,  and  in 
the  dwellings  in  winter.  During  that  whole  period,  the 
congregation  were  not  once  interrupted  at  divine  ser- 
vice by  rain  or  storm.  But  the  first  Sabbath  they  en- 
tered the  new  log  church,  there  was  a  rain-storm. 

BUTLER. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1813.  Several  con- 
gregations mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  were  component  parts  of  the  organization. 
Thorn's  Tent,  Salt  Spring,  and  Harmony,  with  portions 
of  Muddy  Creek,  were  merged  into  one,  and  constituted 
the  present  flourishing  church  of  Butler.  The  first 
'^astor  was   Rev.  John   McPherrin   (16).     He  was  in- 

1  Merged  in  Butler  in  1813. 


CHURCHES.  435 

stalled  April  7,  1813,  and  continued  his  pastoral  relation 
until  his  death,  February  10,  1822. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Loyal  Young,  D.  D.,  was 
ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany,^ 
December  4,  1833.  In  1815  a  stone  edifice  was  erected 
as  a  house  of  worship,  which  in  1833  gave  place  to  a 
commodious  one  of  brick ;  this  again  gave  place  to  the 
present  fine  structure  in  1865.  This  church  has  en- 
joyed many  precious  revival  scenes ;  the  most  important 
of  which  have  been  in  1836,  1843,  and  1853.  It  has 
also  furnished  many  ministers  of  the  gospel,  who  are 
laboring  in  the  great  field,  and  some  who  now  rest 
from  their  labors.    It  is  in  the  Presbytery  of  Alleghany. 

FAIRVIEW,now  WESTMINSTER. 

This  church  was  gathered  and  organized  by  Rev. 
Johnston  Eaton  (20),  who  was  its  first  pastor.  It  is 
somewhat  uncertain  as  to  the  precise  date  of  its  organ- 
ization, perhaps  1806.  The  first  elders  were  Andrew 
Caughey,  George  Reed,  and  William  Arbuckle.  At  its 
organization,  it  consisted  of  but  twenty-five  members ; 
all,  with  two  exceptions,  have  now  passed  away.  Mr. 
Eaton  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  this  church 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  in  connection  with  Spring- 
field, on  the  30th  of  June,  1808.  He  continued  its 
pastor  until  the  time  of  his  death,  June  17,  1847,  a 
period  of  nearly  forty  years. 

The  second  pastor  was  Rev.  William  Willson  (81), 
who  was  ordained  and  installed  June  11,  1851,  in  con- 
nection with  Sturgeonville  and  Girard.  He  was  re- 
leased from  his  charge,  May  2,  1855.  The  next  pastor 
was  Rev.  John  R.  Hamilton  (93),  ordained  and  installed 
June  15,  1859  ;  released,  June  15,  1864.  The  nextpas- 
1  Erected  1820. 


436  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

tor  was  Rev.  L.  M.  Belden  (109),  ordained  and  installed 
December  14,  18G4 ;  released,  April  25,  18G6. 

In  the  year  1847,  this  church  sent  off  a  colony  to 
form  the  church  of  Sturgeonville,  that  reduced  its  num- 
bers considerably.  Soon  after,  the  church  edifice  was  re- 
moved to  a  more  central  locality.  Its  name  was  after- 
wards changed  to  Westminster,  inasmuch  as  it  was  now 
removed  from  Fairview  Township,  where  it  had  been 
originally  located. 

The  first  church  edifice  was  of  hewn  logs,  on  a  beau- 
tiful site,  overlooking  Lake  Erie.  This  was  afterwards 
enlarged  by  cutting  out  two  or  three  logs,  and  building 
an  open  shed  against  the  side.  The  next  edifice  was  of 
frame,  on  a  new  site.  This  was  afterwards  removed  to 
the  position  it  now  occupies. 

About  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church  of 
Sturgeonville,  the  church  of  Fairview  (New  School), 
was  organized,  mainly  from  the  elements  of  the  old 
Fairview  church.  This  church  is  now  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  Rev.  A.  Dunn.  The  influence  of  this 
old  Fairview  church,  and  its  first  pastor,  in  moulding 
and  forming  the  character  of  the  community  along  the 
Lake  Shore,  cannot  be  fully  appreciated.  It  has  been 
the  mother  of  churches. 

SPRINGFIELD. 

This  church  is  in  Erie  County,  Pa.,  on  the  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  and  is  at  the  present  time  in  connection  with 
"  the  other  branch."  It  was  organized  as  a  preaching 
point,  in  the  year  1804,  by  Rev.  Robert  Patterson  (13), 
and  regularly  organized  as  a  church  in  1806,  by  Rev. 
Johnston  Eaton  (20).  The  first  elders  were  Isaac  Mil- 
ler, James  Blair,  and  James  Bruce.     There  were  at 


CHURCHES.  437 

this  time  thirty  members.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Johnston  Eaton,  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presby- 
tery of  Erie,  June  30,  1808  ;  pastoral  relation  dissolved 
November  8,  1814.  In  1817,  Rev.  Phineas  Camp  (29), 
conducted  a  series  of  meetings,  that  were  accompanied 
by  the  bodily  exercise.  In  1818,  Rev.  Michael  Law 
preached  for  a  time.  The  house  of  worship  being  but 
about  twenty  or  twenty-five  feet  square,  and  unable  to 
contain  the  people,  Mr.  Law  preached  in  the  grove, 
having  for  a  pulpit  a  single  slab  knocked  in  between 
two  trees  endwise.  At  this  time  Cornelius  Aten,  Rob- 
ert Porter,  and  Allen  Law  were  elected  elders. 

From  this  time  until  1827,  the  church  was  depend- 
ent on  supplies.  In  this  latter  year  a  call  was  made 
out  for  the  pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  Pierce  Chamberlain 
(38).  This  call  was  accepted,  and  he  was  installed  as 
pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  on  the  16th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1828.  This  relation  was  dissolved  on  the  1st  of 
October  of  the  same  year,  on  account  of  the  ill  health 
of  the  pastor. 

In  the  year  1837,  Rev.  Charles  Danforth  (53), 
preached  as  a  stated  supply.  From  1841  to  1843,  Rev. 
Richard  Craighead  labored  in  this  field.  From  1844 
to  1850,  Rev.  John  M.  Williams ;  in  1854,  Rev.  James 
F.  Reed ;  in  1860,  Rev.  0.  W.  Norton ;  afterwards 
Rev.  J.  D.  Barstow ;  and  at  the  present  time,  Rev.  E. 
B.  Chamberlain. 

WARREN,  OHIO. 

This  church  was  organized  onthe'^19th  of  November, 
1803,  under  the  name  of  "The  Church  of  Christ  in 
Warren,"  by  Rev.  Joseph  Badger  (11),  assisted  by  Mr. 
Tait  (3),  and  Mr.  Wick  (2).     It  was  at  the  first  com- 


438  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

posed  of  but  six  members.  Rev.  Thomas  Robbins  and 
Rev.  Jonathan  Leslie  supplied  the  church  for  the  first 
five  years. 

The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Boyd  (21).  He  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Warren  and  New- 
ton, October  19,  1808,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He 
was  removed  by  death  on  the  8th  of  March,  1813. 

Rev.  James  Duncan  then  supplied  the  church  for  two 
years.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Curtis  ; 
installed  February  4,  1820,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Grand 
River;  released  from  his  charge  in  June,  1831.  Rev. 
G.  W.  Hulin  and  Rev.  J.  A.  Woodruff  were  stated  sup- 
plies for  a  time.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Nathan  B. 
Purinton,  installed  May,  1840,  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Trumbull;  released,  Ajoril  12,  1848.  The  next  pastor 
was  Rev.  William  C.  Clark,  installed  November  15, 
1848,  by  the  Presbytery  of  Trumbull ;  released,  April 
22,  1863.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Henry  Richard 
Hoisington,  installed  December  14,  1864 ;  released, 
April  16,  1867. 

At  the  first,  this  church  was  congregational.  The 
Presbyterian  form  of  government  was  adopted  Febru- 
ary 1,  1838.  It  is  now  in  connection  with  the  other 
branch,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  having  at  the 
present  time  two  hundred  and  forty-one  communicants. 
It  is  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Trumbull. 

MOORFIELD. 

This  church  was  a  portion  of  Mr.  Satterfield's  first 
charge.  It  was  situated  in  Hickory  Township,  Mercer 
County,  about  two  miles  east  of  Sharon.  It  was  proba- 
bly organized  about  1800  or  1801.  Mr.  Satterfield  was 
installed  as  pastor,  March  3,  1802,  in  connection  with 


CHURCHES. 


439 


Neshannock.  He  continued  the  pastor  of  Moorfield, 
until  he  demitted  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry  in 
1834.  At  this  time  villages  and  churches  had  sprung 
up  all  around  Moorfield,  —  Sharon,  Middlesex,  and 
Clarksville,  —  which  gradually  absorbed  its  member- 
ship, when  it  became  extinct.  It  was  dissolved  soon 
after  Mr.  Satterfield's  resignation. 

BROOKFIELD,  OHIO. 

This  church  is  in  the  Western  Reserve.  Its  name 
first  appears  on  the  minutes  in  1809.  Rev.  Jolm  Core 
was  the  first  pastor,  installed  in  1817,  in  connection 
with  You'hgstown  and  Vienna.  The  pastoral  relation . 
was  dissolved  October  21,  1824.  Rev.  James  Satter- 
field  was  pastor  from  1812  to  1814.  After  this  it  was 
long  vacant  and  dependent  on  supj^lies.  In  1851  Rev. 
Jacob  Coon  was  pastor.  Rev.  George  S.  Rice  is  now 
pastor  elect. 

HUBBARD,  OHIO. 

This  congregation  was  first  enrolled  in  1809.  In 
1812  Rev.  James  Satterfield  became  pastor  in  connec- 
tion with  Moorfield  and  Brookfield.  This  relation  con- 
tinued until  April  6,  1831.  In  1852,  Rev.  A.  0.  Rock- 
well was  pastor.  Rev.  George  S.  Rice  is  now  pastor 
elect. 

FIRST  CHURCH,  ERIE,  PA. 

Although  not  the  first  of  the  churches  planted  on 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  yet  this  church  has  always, 
since  its  organization,  held  a  prominent  place.  It  is 
first  spoken  of  in  the  old  minutes  as  Presque  Isle,  and 
afterwards  Erietown.  It  is  mentioned  as  seeking  sup- 
plies in  1802,  though  it  was  not  regularly  organized 


440  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

until  September,  1815.  In  1803  it  united  with  Middle- 
brook  and  North  East,  then  called  Upper  and  Lower 
Greenfield,  in  extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Robert  Patter- 
son (13),  although  the  call  was  not  prosecuted.  The 
church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  Johnston  Eaton  (2t)),  from 
1814  to  1823 ;  the  first  four  years  of  this  period,  one 
third  of  the  time  was  given  to  Erie,  and  the  remaining 
five  years  one  half.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  David 
Mc Kinney  (32).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  April  13^  1825  ;  released  April  21, 
1829.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  George  A.  Lyon, 
D.  D.  "He  was  ordained  and  installed  September  9, 
1829.  Next  to  that  of  Mr.  Eaton,  Dr.  Lyon's  pastorate 
has  been  the  longest  in  the  history  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie. 

The  first  regular  place  of  worship  was  a  frame  build- 
ing called  "  the  Yellow  Meeting-house."  Li  1824  a 
comfortable  brick  house  was  erected,  and  in  June,  1859, 
the  corner-stone  of  the  present  elaborate  and  beautiful 
church  was  laid.^  One  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  session  was  Judah  Colt.  He  came  to  Erie 
in  1795.  He  made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the  days 
of  Elisha  Macurdy,  and  w-as  ever  afterwards  a  gener- 
ous, consistent,  and  useful  man.  At  the  great  division, 
this  church  adhered  to  the  other  branch.  It  has  sent 
out  two  colonies :  Belle  Valley,  of  which  Rev.  Joseph 
Vance  is  pastor,  and  the  Park  Church,  noticed  else- 
where. 

UNITY,  now  HAPvRISVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Butler  County,  and  now  under  the 
care  of  the   Presbytery  of  Alleghany.     The  organiza- 
tion took  place  in  1807.     It  first  appears  on  the  min- 
i  Miss  Sanford's  History. 


CHURCHES.  441 

utes  in  1808.  Sometimes  is  called  TTest  Unity.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs  (18).  He  was  in- 
stalled April  6,  1814;  released,  April  2,  1834  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  R.  Agnew  ;  installed  April 
3, 1838  ;  released,  October  21, 1845  or  1846.  Rev.  John 
Moore  was  pastor  from  1847  to  1849.  Rev.  Meade 
Satterfield,  son  of  Rev.  James  Satterfield  (5),  one  of 
the  original  members  of  Presbytery ,'was  pastor  from 
1850  to  the  time  of  his  death,  a  period  of  six  years. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Boyd,  who  was  in- 
stalled in  1856  ;  released,  June  26,  1866.  The  present 
pastor  is  Rev.  W.  D.  Patton,  who  was  installed  in  1866. 

NEWTON. 

This  church  is  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  portion  of  the 
original  charge  of  Rev.  .James  Boyd  (21),  in  connection 
with  Warren,  Ohio.  Mr.  Boyd  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  October  19,  1808. 
He  was  released  by  death,  March  8,  1813.  It  was  then 
vacant,  until  Rev.  Joshua  Beer,  a  former  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  was  installed,  June  24,  1818 ;  re- 
leased, January,  1822.  After  this  it  was  long  vacant. 
Rev.  William  O.  Stratton  was  pastor  from  1844  to  1855. 
Rev.  John  B.  Miller  from  1857  to  1858.  The  present 
pastor.  Rev.  T.  P.  vSpeer,  was  installed  in  1860.  It  is 
now  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Lisbon. 

NEW  REHOBOTH  AND  LICKING. 

These  congregations  are  in  Clarion  County,  Pa. 
They  were  gathered  and  organized  by  Rev.  Robert  Mc- 
Garraugh  (23),  about  the  year  1806  or  1807.  Mr. 
McGarraugh  was  installed  as  their  pastor  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone,  November  12,  1807.     On   the  4th 


442  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

of  October,  1811,  they  were  detached  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Redstone  by  Synod,  and  connected  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie.  At  the  organization  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alleghany  in  1820,  they  fell  within  its  terri- 
tory ;  and  at  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Clarion,  in  1841,  they  became  connected  with  that  body. 
On  the  od  of  April,  1822,  Mr.  McGarraiigh  was  re- 
leased from  the  charge  of  these  churches.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  John   Core,  installed  September  16, 

1824.  He  was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
church  of  New  Rehoboth  in  1844,  and  from  that  of 
Licking  by  death.  May  7,  1854. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  church  of  New  Rehoboth 
is  Rev.  James  Montgomery,  who  commenced  his  pastor- 
ate in  1844.  The  present  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Licking  is  Rev.  Joseph  Mateer,  installed  1855. 

BIG  SUGAR  CREEK. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  and  was  or- 
ganized in  1813  or  1814.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Ira  Condit  (24),  ordained  November  8,  1814,  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie,  in  connection  with  Fairfield  ;  re- 
leased from  the  charge  of  the  former,   December  28, 

1825.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas  Anderson 
(37).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Erie,  September  10,  1826,  in  connection  with  Con- 
cord and  Franklin  ;  released  from  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  former  in  1837.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Cy- 
rus Dickson  (58).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  24,  1840,  in  connection 
with  Franklin ;  released  from  the  former,  January  1, 
1846.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Coulter  (62), 
installed  September,  1848;  released,  January  16,1850. 


CHURCHES.  443 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Glenn  (44),  installed 
June  18,  1850  ;  released  by  death,  September  6,  1857. 
The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  D.  Howey  (94),  ordained 
and  installed  September  21,  1859;  released,  April  26, 
1865.  The  congregation,  since  that  time,  has  been  de- 
pendent on  supplies.  It  is  now  supplied  by  Rev.  D. 
Patton. 

WATERFORD. 

This  church  is  in  Erie  County,  and  at  present  in 
connection  with  the  other  branch.  It  was  probably  or- 
ganized about  the  year  1809  or  1810.  The  first  pastor 
was  Rev.  John  Matthews  (22).  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  in  connection  with  Gravel  Run,  October  17, 
1810 ;  released  from  Waterford  April  2,  1817.  From 
this  date  until  1828,  the  church  was  dependent  on  sup- 
plies. Rev.  Phineas  Camp  (29),  and  Mr.  Judah  Ely, 
preached  for  a  time.  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger  (39)  was 
stated  supply  from  1828  to  1838.  Rev.  B.  J.  Wallace 
supplied  in  1833,  and  the  next  year  Rev.  J.  Watson 
Johnston.  On  the  15th  of  September,  1836,  Rev. 
Pierce  Chamberlain  (38)  was  installed  as  pastor,  in 
connection  with  Union.  He  was  released  from  the 
charge  of  Waterford  in  1844.  Rev.  G.  W.  Cleveland 
supplied  until  1849.  The  church  was  subsequently 
supplied  by  Rev.  C.  F.  Diver,  and  perhaps  others.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  T.  T.  Bradford.  The  congrega- 
tion had  no  regular  place  of  worship  until  1835,  when 
the  present  house  was  erected.  The  church  is  now  in  a 
prosperous  condition. 

GRAVEL  RUN. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  and  was  proba- 
bly organized  in  1809  or  1810.     The  ficst  pastor  was 


444  PRESBYTERY  OF   ERIE. 

Rev.  John  Matthews  (22),  installed  in  connection  with 
Waterford,  October  17,  1810.  He  was  released  from 
the  charge  of  Gravel  Run,  November  8,  1814.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger  (39).  He  was 
ordained  and  installed,  October  1,  1828  ;  released  from 
his  charge  in  1832. 

Rev.  Alexander  Cunningham  (65)  was  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor,  October  5,  1843  ;  r^eased  from  his 
charge  in  1851.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  James  W. 
Dickey  (64),  installed  April  19,  1854. 

At  the  division  in  1838,  this  church  was  divided,  a 
portion  adhering  to  each  branch.  The  New  School 
branch  is  called  also  Gravel  Run  ;  Rev.  G.  W.  Hamp- 
son  is  the  pastor. 

WASHINGTON. 

This  church  is  in  Edinboro',  Erie  County.  For  the 
last  quarter  of  a  century  its  history  has  been  identified 
with  that  of  Gravel  Run,  having  been  united  in  the 
same  pastoral  charge.  Mr.  Cunningham  was  installed 
pastor,  October  5,  1853.;  released  from  his  charge  in 
1851.  Mr.  Dickey,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed 
April  19,  1854.  This  church  was  also  divided  in  1838. 
The  New  School  branch  is  called  Edinboro' ;  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Grassie  is  the  pastor. 

WARREN,  PA. 

This  is  an  old  congregation,  yet  the  records  are  dim 
and  misty  that  relate  to  its  history.  Its  name  first  ap- 
pears on  the  minutes  in  1810.  Probably  the  first  pastor 
was  Rev.  Nathan  Harned  (34).  He  was  ordained  and 
installed,  April  20, 1825  ;  released  in  March,  1826.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  Absalom  McCready  (36) ;  installed, 


CHURCHES.  445 

September  13,  1837  ;  released,  June  27,  1838.  For  a 
few  years  from  1841,  Rev.  Hiram  Edcly  (60)  supplied 
the  church.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  M.  Smith 
(67),  installed  January  28,  1846  ;  released,  August  11, 
1847.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  John  Sailor  (79),  in- 
stalled May  4,  18o3  ;  released,  August  29,  1855.  After 
this  Mr.  Hequembourg  supplied  for  a  time.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev^.  Robert  Taylor  (102)  ;  ordained  and 
installed  November  13,  1861 ;  released,  September  26, 
1862.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  W.  T.  Hamilton,  D.  D. 
(105)  ;  installed  in  May,  1864;  released,  April  26,  1865. 
The  present  stated  supply  is  Rev.  William  Rankin. 
This  congregation  has  recently  completed  a  fine  church 
edifice. 

OIL  CREEK,  now  TITUSVILLE. 

This  church  was  gathered  and  organized  by  Rev. 
Amos  Chase  (25)  about  the  year  1815.  Mr.  Chase 
supplied  it  until  the  24th  day  of  May,  1826,  when  he 
was  installed  as  its  first  pastor  for  one  half  of  his  time. 
The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  1830.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  G.  W.  Hampson  (43),  who  was  or- 
dained and  installed  as  pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of 
P>ie,  June  27,  1832.  He  continued  his  relation  for 
some  ten  years,  when  the  relation  was  dissolved.  Owing 
to  peculiar  circumstances,  the  church  gradually  became 
disorganized,  and  its  individuality  lost.  A  few  years 
ago  it  was  reorganized  under  the  name  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Titusvilie,  Rev.  William  HoweM 
Taylor,  pastor.  It  is  situated  in  Crawford  County,  Pa., 
and  in  connection  with  the  other  branch. 


446  PRESBYTERY  OF  ERIE. 


CENTERVILLE. 

This  church  is  situated  about  ten  miles  from  Titus- 
ville.  It  was  gathered  by  Mr.  Chase  in  1815.  He  was 
its  first,  and  perhaps  only  pastor.  He  was  installed  in 
1827,  and  released  from  his  charge  in  1830. 

UNION  (Erie  County,  Pa.). 

This  church  was  organized  in  April,  1811,  with  eight 
members,  and  one  elder,  Matthew  Gray.  It  was  long 
dependent  on  supplies.  In  1820,  Rev.  Amos  Chase 
supplied  it  for  one  fourth  of  his  time.  Previous  to  this 
or  about  1814,  Rev.  John  Matthews  (22)  supplied  it. 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Absalom  McCready  (36),  who 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
September  14,  1826.  Pie  was  released  from  his  charge 
in  1835.  In  May,  1836,  Rev.  Pierce  Chamberlain  (38) 
began  to  supply,  and  continued  until  November,  1840. 
In  1841,  Rev.  Thomas  Anderson  (37),  was  installed 
pastor;  released  from  his  charge  in  1843.  The  church 
has  been  successively  supplied  by  Rev.  G.  W.  Cleve- 
land, Rev.  C.  F.  Diver,  Rev.  T.  T.  Bradford,  Rev.  G. 
H.  Hammer,  and  Rev.  William  Grassie.  On  the  8th 
of  February,  1862,  Rev.  J.  F.  Reed,  D.  D.,  was  installed 
as  pastor  ;  released  April  10,  1866.  Rev.  F.  V.  War- 
ren is  the  present  stated  supply.  It  is  in  connection 
with  the  other  branch. 

WESTFIELD,  N.  Y. 

This  church  was  first  organized  by  Rev.  John  Lind- 
sey,  in  1808,  under  the  name  of  "  Chatauque."  It  soon 
lost  its  organization.     On  the  7th  day  of  November, 


CHURCHES.  447 

1817,  it  was  reorganized  by  Rev.  Johnston  Eaton  (20) 
and  Rev.  Phineas  Camp  (29).  The  latter  was  its  first 
pastor,  installed  September  8,1819;  released,  Septem- 
ber, 1821.  On  the  1st  of  .July,  1819,  the  name  was 
changed  to  Westfield.  About  the  year  1824,  the  church 
was  transferred  to  Buffalo  Presbytery.  The  next  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  Isaac  Oakes.  In  1835,  Rev.  D.  O.  Greg- 
ory was  pastor.  From  1840  to  1845  Rev.  T.  M.  Hop- 
kins was  pastor.  From  1845  to  1854  Rev.  Reuben 
Tinker  was  pastor.  Rev.  C.  F.  Muzzy  was  pastor  in 
1855.  Rev.  J.  P.  Fisher  was  pastor  from  1863  to  1865. 
The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  R.  S.  Van  Cleve  (113),  in- 
stalled in  1867.  It  is  now  in  connection  with  the  other 
branch. 

FRANKLIN. 

This  church  was  organized  July  28,  1817,  by  Rev. 
Ira  Condit.  John  Broadfoot  and  James  Gilleland  were 
chosen  as  elders.  In  July,  1821,  the  church  was  reor- 
ganized by  Rev.  Alexander  Cook  and  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs. 
It  was  then  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Alleghany.  At  this  time  it  consisted  of  nine  members. 
The  next  elders  were  Andrew  Bowman  and  Levi  Dodd. 
The  first  pastor  vtas  Rev.  Thomas  Anderson  (37).  He 
was  ordained  and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie, 
September  19,  1826,  about  which  time  the  church  was 
transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  He  was  released 
from  his  charge  September  12,  1837. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Cyrus  Dickson ;  ordained 
and  installed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  24, 1840, 
released  from  his  charge,  March,  1848.  The  present 
pastor.  Rev.  S.  J.  M.  Eaton  (76),  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled February  7,  1849.    Some  precious  revivals  have 


448  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

characterized  the  history  of  this  church.     Tn  the  winter 
of  18G7,  one  hundred  and  eleven  were  added  to  it. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1830.  The 
corner-stone  of   the  present  edifice  was  laid   July    9, 

1867. 

CONCORD  (Venango  County,  Pa.). 

The  name  of  this  church  first  appears  on^  the  min- 
utes of  Presbytery  in  1826,  when  it  became  a  part  of 
the  charge  of  Rev.  Thomas  Anderson.  He  was  in- 
stalled as  its  pastor,  September  19  of  that  year.  He 
was  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  this  congrega- 
tion on  the  13th  of  April,  1831.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  G.  W.  Hampson  (43).  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  June  27, 
1832  ;  released  in  1837.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
James  Coulter  (62).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Erie  as  pastor,  in  connection  with 
Deerfield,  September  14,  1842  ;  released  about  the  year 
1846.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  M.  A.  Parkinson  (78), 
ordained  and  installed  September  11,  1850;  released,. 
October  20,  1854.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  W.  J. 
Alexander  (89).  He  was  ordained  and  installed  De- 
cember 19,  1855 ;  released,  January  7,  1857.  From 
1860  to  1863,  the  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  J.  H. 
Sargent  (101).  It  was  afterward  supplied  by  Rev.  H. 
Newell  (97),  and  Rev.  John  McKean,  and  at  present 
by  Rev.  J.  J.  Smyth  (115). 

TIDIOUTE   (formerly  Deerfield). 

This  church  is  in  Warren  County,  Pa.  It  was  an- 
ciently known  as  Tidioute;  the  name  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Deerfield.     It  was  received  under  the  care 


CHURCHES.  449 

of  Presbytery  as  a  regularly  organized  church  in  1827. 
Its  first  pastor  was  probably  Rev.  James  Coulter,  in- 
stalled September  14,  1842  ;  released  about  1846.  The 
next  was  Rev.  M.  A.  Parkinson,  installed  September 
11,  1850  ;  released,  October  20,  1854.  The  next.  Rev. 
W.  J.  Alexander,  installed  December  19,  1855 ;  re- 
leased, January  7,  1857.  The  church  was  afterwards 
supplied  by  Mr.  Sargent,  Mr.  Newell,  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Kean.  Having  fallen  into  dilapidation,  it  was  reor- 
ganized in  1867,  under  the  name  of  Tidioute. 

HARBOR  CREEK. 

This  church  is  in  Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  was  a  colony 
from  the  church  of  North  East.  It  was  organized  on 
the  26th  of  May,  1832,  with  fifty-eight  members.  The 
first  elders  were  Myron  Bacchus,  Samuel  Kingsbury, 
and  J.  M.  Moorhead.  It  was  supplied  for  one  year  by 
R^v.  Giles  Doolittle  (33),  pastor  of  North  East.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  A.  Adair  (46),  ordained 
and  installed  November  7,  1833,  in  connection  with 
North  East.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  Octo- 
ber 9,  1834.  After  this  Rev.  Simeon  Peck  (48)  sup- 
plied for  one  year.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Reuben 
Lewis  (51),  ordained  and  installed  November  1,  1837 ; 
released,  June  28, 1838.  At  this  time  the  great  division 
took  place,  when  this  church  was  divided.  The  old 
school  branch  was  supplied  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Townley,  and 
on  the  11th  day  of  August,  1847,  Rev.  J.  K.  Cornyn 
(70)  was  installed  as  pastor.  He  was  released  April 
4,  1850.  On  the  4th  day  of  June,  1866,  the  two  divis- 
ions of  the  church  were  merged  in  one,  under  the  care 
of  the  other  branch. 

In  the  mean  time,  of  the  other  branch.  Rev.  N. 
29 


150  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

West  was  pastor  from  1838  to  1842.  The  church  was 
next  supplied  by  Rev.  Miles  Doolittle,  and  Rev.  M.  T. 
Smith,  until  1848.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  G.  W- 
Cleveland.  He  was  installed  September,  1852.  The 
church  edifice  was  erected  in  1836. 


GIRARD. 

This  church  was  a  colony  from  Springfield.  It  is  in 
Erie  County,  Pa.,  and  was  organized  May  16,  1835. 
The  first  elders  were  Robert  Porter  and  Philip  Bristol. 
At  the  first,  Rev.  Edson  Hart  (42),  who  was  preaching 
at  Springfield,  supplied  them.  The  first  pastor  was 
Rev.  R.  S.  Lockwood  (52),  ordained  and  installed  Jan- 
uary 11,  1837  ;  released  in  1841.  Afterwards  Rev. 
William  Fuller  (52),  and  Rev.  Mr.  Root,  supplied.  The 
next  pastor  was  Rev.  Joseph  Vance,  installed  in  1846  ; 
released  in  1854.  From  this  date  to  1863,  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Porter  was  stated  supply.  In  September,  1864, 
Rev.  H.  0.  Howland  was  installed  as  pastor  ;  released, 
1866.  Rev.  Ira  M.  Condit  (95)  is  at  present  stated 
supply.     It  is  in  connection  with  the  other  branch. 

SANDY  LAKE. 

This  church  is  in  Mercer  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
organized  October  3,  1885,  with  thirteen  members. 
The  first  elders  were  Alexander  Brown,  Homer  Bailey, 
and  Eli  Butler.  Rev.  Robert  Glenn  labored  in  this 
church  as  stated  supply  for  one  third  of  his  time,  for 
eleven  years.  Rev.  J.  W.  McCune  was  installed  pastor, 
.lune  23, 1852  ;  released,  February  7,  1855.  Rev.  John 
G.  Condit  (100)  was  pastor  nearly  two  years.  Rev. 
John  Rice  (110)  is  the  present  stated  supply. 


CHURCHES.  451 

The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1846,  and 
greatly  improved  in  1867. 

HAEMONSBURG. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
organized  in  1829.  It  was  dependent  on  supplies  for 
many  years.  In  the  year  1832,  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger 
(39)  supplied  it.  On  the  4th  day  of  October,  1843, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Dickey  (64)  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
its  pastor ;  released  in  1847.  After  this  Rev.  L.  P. 
Bates  (72)  supplied  for  a  time.  On  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1852,  Rev.  James  Coulter  was  installed  as  pas- 
tor ;  released,  1857  or  1858.  Rev.  George  Scott  was 
installed  June  27,  1860  ;  released,  June  10,  1862.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  N.  S.  Lowrie  (103),  who  was  or- 
dained and  installed  October  22,  1862. 

CONNEAUTVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.  It  was  or- 
ganized, October  31,  1835,  by  Rev.  P.  Hassinger.  One 
elder,  John  Craven,  was  elected.  It  was  supplied  by 
Rev.  R.  Lewis,  Rev.  D.  Waggoner,  and  others.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  W.  Dickey  (64),  ordained  and 
installed,  October  4,  1843,  in  connection  with  Harmons- 
burg  and  Evansburg.  He  was  released  in  1847.  Rev. 
L.  P.  Bates  (72)  supplied  for  a  time  in  1847.  Rev. 
James  Coulter  supplied  the  church  for  a  time  in  1853. 
Rev.  George  W.  Zahniser  (84)  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  pastor  September  7,  1853 ;  released,  April 
13,  1859.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  N.  S.  Lowrie  (103) 
was  ordained  and  installed,  October  22,  1862.  This 
church  was  for  eleven  years  divided  into  two  branches, 
but  became  united  in  1865. 


452  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 


EVANSBURG. 

This  church  was  formerly  known  as  Conneaut,  or  the 
Outlet  of  Conneaut.  In  1811  to  1817,  it  constituted  a 
part  of  the  charge  of  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  in  connec- 
tion with  Meadville  and  Little  Sugar  Creek.  It  was 
probably  dependent  on  supplies  from  that  time  to 
April  14,  1841,  when  Rev.  Edward  S.  Blake  (59)  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  in  connection  with 
Gravel  Run.  His  pastorate  continued  for  one  year. 
On  the  4th  of  October,  1843,  Rev.  J.  W.  Dickey  was 
installed  as  pastor ;  released  in  1847.  In  September, 
1852,  Rev.  James  Coulter  was  installed  as  pastor;  re- 
leased in  1857  or  1858.  Rev.  George  Scott  (98)  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  June  27,  1860 ;  re- 
leased, June  10,  1862. 

CHERRY  TREE. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  and  was  or- 
ganized, February  1,  1837,  with  thirteen  members. 
The  first  elders  were  John  Irwin  and  John  Rynd.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  G.  W.  Hampson  (43).  At  the 
division,  this  church  went  with  the  other  branch.  The 
present  stated  supply  is  Rev.  W.  C.  Birchard. 

GREENVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Mercer  County,  and  was  probably 
formed  from  elements  drawn  from  the  church  of  Salem. 
It  was  organized  in  1825.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
James  Alexander  (40),  who  was  ordained  and  installed 
October  13,  1828  ;  released,  June  25,  1834.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  J.  G.  Wilson  (49),  ordained  and  in- 
stalled, October  12,  1836;  released,  1841.     The  next 


CHURCHES.  453 

pastor  was  Rev.  Henry  "Webber  (63),  ordained  and  in- 
stalled January  20,  1843  ;  released,  October  16,  1844 
In  1847  and  1848,  the  church  was  supplied  by  Rev.  L. 
W.  Williams  (71).  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  H. 
Callen  (75),  ordained  and  installed  October  25,  1848 ; 
released,  June  23,  1852.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev. 
David  Grier  (83)  ;  installed,  January  18, 1854;  released, 
April  13,  1859.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  C.  Jun- 
kin,  installed  June  10,  1862 ;  released,  May  8,  1867. 

BIG  BEND. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in  1825,  and  was 
for  a  time  associated  with  Greenville.  In  the  course 
of  events,  it  has  become  disorganized.  Its  name  was 
removed  from  the  roll  in  1842. 

SPURGE  ONVILLE. 

This  church  was  a  colony  from  the  old  church  of 
Fairview,  Erie  County,  Pa.  It  was  organized  in  1845. 
It  was  first  supplied  by  Mr.  Kean,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Blairsville.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
J.  K.  Cornyn  (70),  ordained  and  installed  August  11, 
1847  ;  released,  June  19,  1850.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  William  Wilson  (18),  ordained  and  installed  June 
11,  1851 ;  released,  May  2,  1855.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  J.  R.  Hamilton  (93),  ordained  and  installed  June 
15,  1859  ;  released,  June  15,  1864.  The  present,  pas- 
tor is  Rev.  L.  M.  Belden  (109),  who  was  ordained  and 
installed  December  14,  1864. 

WATERLOO. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
organized,  March  5,   1854,  from   the  membership-  of 


454  PRESBYTERY    OF  ERIE. 

Franklin  and  Mill  Creek.  It  has  depended  chiefly  on 
supplies.  Mr.  Coulter,  Mr.  Condit,  and  Mr.  Newell 
have  supplied  it.  The  church  edifice  was  erected  by 
James  Gilleland,  one  of  the  first  elders,  at  his  individual 
expense. 

SUGAR   GROVE. 

This  is  an  old  church  in  "Warren  County,  Pa.  From 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of  its  position,  it  has  been 
mainly  dependent  on  supplies. 

IRVINE. 

This  church  is  also  in  Warren  County,  and  has  not 
always  enjoyed  the  labors  of  a  pastor.  It  was  organized 
in  1844. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
organized  in  1842.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev.  S.  J.  M. 
Eaton  (76),  installed  February  7,  1849,  for  one  third 
of  his  time ;  released  August  29,  1855.  It  has  since 
been  supplied  by  Rev.  James  Coulter,  Rev.  J.  G.  Con- 
dit, and  Rev.  John  McKean. 

PARK  CHURCH,  ERIE,  PA. 

This  church  was  organized,  June  28,  1855.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  William  M.  Blackburn  (91),  in- 
stalled May  25,  1857  ;  released,  December  22,  1863. 
The  present  pastor,  Rev.  George  F.  Cain  (107),  was 
installed  May  11,  1864. 

MILLEDGEVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Mercer  County,  and  was  organized 
in  1856.     It  has  been  mainly  dependent  on  supplies. 


CHURCHES.  455 

Henry  B.  Lambe  (111)  was  installed  as  pastor  July  11, 
1866 ;  released,  May  9,  1867.  The  present  supply  is 
Mr.  Patton. 

OIL   CITY,  PA. 

This  church  was  organized,  December,  1861,  with 
twelve  members  and  two  ruling  elders,  Adam  Turner 
and  C.  C.  Waldo.  Rev.  W.  P.  Moore  (106),  has  been 
stated  supply  since  1863. 

GREENFIELD. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.  It  was  a 
colony  from  the  church  of  Georgetown,  and  was  organ- 
ized on  the  22d  of  June,  1854,  with  twenty  members. 
The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  George  Scott  (98),  having 
been  previously  supplied  by  Rev.  James  Coulter.  Mr. 
Scott  was  ordained  and  installed  June  27,  1860 ;  re- 
leased, June  10,  1862.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev. 
David  Waggoner,  who  was  installed  July  1,  1864. 

VENANGO. 

This  church  is  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
organized,  by  act  of  Presbytery,  October  24,  1866.  It 
was  a  colony  from  the  Gravel  Run  Church.  It  takes 
its  name  from  the  borough  where  the  church  is  located. 

COCHRANTON. 

This  church  was  received  from  the  care  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Reformed  Presbytery,  September  26,  1867.  It 
was  originally  a  colony  from  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  the  same  place.  This  latter  church  was  an- 
ciently under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  under 
the  name  of  "  Little  Sugar  Creek."    It  was  a  portion  of 


456  PRESBYTERY   OF  ERIE. 

Mr.  Johnston's  (14)  charge,  from  1811  to  1817,  and 
passed  to  the  connection  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  about  the  year  1819  or  1820.  Mr.  Patton  is 
the  present  pastor  of  this  church. 

SECOND  PKESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  MERCER,  PA. 

This  church  is  a  colony  from  the  First  Church,  Mer- 
cer. It  was  organized,  October  20,  1863,  with  forty- 
eight  members  and  three  ruling  elders,  Elias  Alexan- 
der, Joseph  Fleming,  and  R.  M.  J.  Zahniser.  The  pas- 
tor. Rev.  W.  M.  Robinson  (108),  was  installed  June 
15, 1864.  At  first  the  congregation  worshipped  in  the 
Court  House,  but  have  recently  completed  a  substantial 
brick  edifice. 

MOUNT  VERNON,  now  PLEASANTVILLE. 

This  church  is  in  Venango  County,  and  was  organ- 
ized June  19,  1860,  as  a  colony  from  the  church  of 
Concord.  It  contained  at  its  organization  twelve  mem- 
bers. On  the  9th  of  May,  1867,  the  name  was  changed 
to  Pleasantville.  It  is  at  present  supplied  by  Rev.  J.  J. 
Smyth  (115). 

PETROLEUxM   CENTER. 

This  church  was  gathered  by  Dr.  Marks  (112),  and 
was  organized  September  24, 1865,  with  fourteen  mem- 
bers. The  first  elders  were  A.  D.  Cotton  and  J.  M. 
Dickey.  It  was  at  first  supplied  by  Dr.  Marks.  Mr. 
J.  T.  Oxtoby  is  pastor  elect. 


INDEX. 


Ability  Question,  125. 

Act  of  Synod,  28,  139. 

Act  and  Testimony,  129. 

Adair,  W.  A.,  notice  of,  375,  128. 

Adventure  of  Badger,  228. 

Alden,   Timothy,     biography   of, 

290,  83,  91,  124. 
Agnew,  J.  R.,  430. 
Alexander,  Dr.  Archibald,  108. 
Alexander,  James,  D.  D.,    notice 

of,  373. 
Alexander,  Wm.  J.,  notice  of,  392, 

155. 
Amity,  history  of,  414. 
Anderson,  T.  C,  421. 
Anderson,  Thomas,  biography  of, 

315,  110,  112. 
Anecdote  of  Patterson,  239. 
"  Porter,  86. 

"  Eice,  28. 

"  Wood,  12. 

"  West,  333. 

"  Wilson,  115. 

Anxious  seat,  121. 
Appeal  to  Synod,  141. 
Badger,    Joseph,    biography   of, 

218,  42,  62. 
Bans  of  marriage,  75. 
Baptism,  question  of,  124. 
Barns,  worship  in,  67. 
Barrett,  John,  106. 
Bates,  L.  P.,    biography  of,  349, 

152. 
Beaver  Church,  histor}'  of,  410. 
Beer,  Joshua,  441,  54. 
Behrends,  C.  A.,  notice  of,  392, 157. 
Belden,  L.  M.,  notice  of,  400,  163. 
Billingsley,  A.  S.,  431. 

BlOGKAPHY    OF    DECEASED    MIN- 
ISTERS: — 

Alden,  Timothv,  290. 


Anderson,  Thomas,  315. 

Badger,  Joseph,  218. 
Bates,  Lemuel  P.,  349. 
Boyd,  Abraham,  213. 

"      Benjamin,  255. 

"      James,  269. 

"      John,  211. 

"      Alexander,  339. 
Bracken,  Reid,  261. 
Bushnell,  Wells,  311. 
Camp,  Phineas,  299. 
Chamberlain,  Pierce,  319. 
Chase,  Amos,  282. 
Condit,  Ira,  277. 
Cook,  Alexander,  230. 
Cornyn,  John  K.,  341. 
Crane,  N.  M.,  352. 
Danforth,  Charles,  334. 
Doolittle,  Giles,  303. 
Eaton,  Johnston,  265. 
Glenn,  Robert,  324. 
Earned,  Nathan,  308. 
Hart,  Edson,  323. 
Hughes,  Thomas  E.,  177. 
Johnston,  Robert,  240. 
Lee,  Robert,  195. 
Limber,  John,  336. 
Marcy,  Bradford,  302. 
Matthews,  John,  271. 
McCullough,  William,  356. 
McGarraugh,  Robert,  275. 
McNair,  John,  D.  D.,  328. 
McPherrin,  John,  251. 
Munson,  John,  296. 
Patterson,  Robert,  233. 
Pittinger,  Nicholas,  249. 
Redick,  John,  288. 
Riggs,  Cvrus,  256. 
Satterfield,  James,  199. 
Stockton,  Joseph, 191. 
Struve,  Charles  V.,  351. 
Tait,  Samuel,  185. 


458 


INDEX. 


Taylor,  Robert,  361. 
West,  Nathaniel,  D.  D.,  331. 
Wick,  William,  182. 
Williams,  Lewis  W.,  343. 
Wood,  William,  216. 
WyUe,  WiUiam,  D.  D.,  203. 

Big  Bend,  history'  of,  453. 
Blake.  E.  S.,  notice  of,  382,  147. 
Blackburn,  W.  M.,  notice  of,  393, 

157. 
Boardman,  C.  A.,  408. 
Bodily  Exercise,  59. 
Bodily  Exercise,  described,  60. 
Bodily  Exercise,  Mr.  Johnston's 

account  of,  62. 
Books  sought,  41. 
Boundaries  of  Presbytery,  56. 
Boundaries,  new,  98. 
Bouton,  E.,  408. 
Boyd,  Abraham,  biographj'  of,  213. 

"      Benjamin,    biography    of, 
255. 

"      James,biography  of,  269,57. 

"      John,  biography  of,  211. 

"      Alex.,  biography  of,  339. 

"      J.  F.,  415. 
Bracken,  Reid,  biography  of,  261, 

52,  53. 
Bradford,  A.  B.,  407. 
T.  T.,  443. 
Brookfield,  history  of,  439. 
Bull  Creek,  history  of,  422. 
Butler,  history  of," 434. 
Bushnell,    Wells,    biography    of, 

311,  111. 

Cain,  George  F.,  notice  of,  399, 

162. 
Callen,  J.  H.,  notice  of,  387. 
Caldwell,  S.,  422. 
Camp,    Phineas,     biography     of, 

299,  96. 
Candidates,  94. 
Carrier,  A.  H.,  430. 
Catechism,  25. 
Chamberlain,    P.,    biography  of, 

319. 
Chaplains,  79, 172. 
Charcoal  fire,  74. 
Chase,  Amos,  biography  of,  282, 

81,  118. 
Cherry  Tree,  history  of,  452. 
Cholera,  125. 
Center,  history  of,  427. 
Centerville,  history  of,  446. 
Cleveland,  G.  W.,  442. 


Cochranton,  histoiy  of,  455. 
Cochran,  Mr.,  430. 
Commissioners,  first,  35. 
Commission,  Christian,  172. 
Comtnittees,  49. 
Complaint,  136. 
Concord,  history  of,  433. 
Concord,  (Venango   Co.)    historv 

of,  448. 
Conneautville,  history  of,  451. 
Confession  of  Faith,  117. 
Condit,  Ira,  biography  of,  277,  80, 

114. 
Condit,  Ira  M.,  notice  of,  395,  158. 
Condit,  J.  G.,  notice  of,  397, 159. 
Colt,  Judah,  440, 108. 
Core,  John,  408. 
Cornplanter,  92. 

Cornyn,  J.  K.,  biography  of,  341. 
Cook,  Alex.,    biography  of,   230, 

42,  70. 
Cool   Spring,  history  of,  410,  31, 

113. 
Coulter,  John,^433. 
Coulter,  James,  notice  of,  383,  148. 

"       J.  R.,  431. 
Countrv,  state  of  the,  160,  164.  » 
Craighead,  R.,  414,  437. 
Crane,  N.  M.,  biography  of,  352, 

153. 
Critchlow,  B.  C,  470. 

Danforth,  Charles,  biography  of, 

334,  133. 
Delegates  to  New  School,  163. 
Dickson,  William,  54. 

"  "        his  Journal,  74. 

Dickson,  Cyrus,  D.  D.,  notice  of, 

381, 149. 
Dickson,  Robert,  4l6. 
Dickey,  D.  L.,  408. 

"        J.  W.,  notice  of,  384. 
Dilworth,  Dr.  R.,  425. 
Albert,  407. 
Division  of  Presbytery,  51, 140. 
Diver,  C  F.,  442. 
Doolittle,     Giles,     biography    of, 

303,  109,  126. 
Dunp,  Ambrose,  436. 

Eaton,    Johnston,    biography    of, 

265,  51,  53,  78. 
Eaton,   S.  J.  M.,  notice  of,  387. 
Eddy,  Hiram,  notice  of,  382, 147. 
Education,  84. 
Elder  question,  79. 
Ely,  Judah,  106. 


INDEX. 


459 


Enterprise,  3. 

Erie,  First  Church,  439. 

"    Park  Church,  454. 

"    Presbytery  erected,  29. 
Evansburg,  history  of,  452. 
Excision  acts,  135. 
Exegesis,  107. 

Fairfield  Church,  history  of,  417. 
Fairview  Church,  history  of,  435. 
Fairview  Church,  name  changed, 

160. 
Fasting,  91. 
Fencing  tables,  24. 
Findley,  J.  R.,  notice  of,  393. 
Fire  in  churches,  72. 
Fisher,  J.  P.,  447. 
Forest  worship,  68. 
Franklin  Church,  history  of,  447, 

113. 
Fuller,  William,    notice  of,  379, 

133. 
FultoA,  J..P.,  409. 

General  Assembly  rule,  140. 
GeorgetOAvn  Church,  history  of, 418. 
Girard  Church,  history  of, '450. 
Gray,  J.  H.,  notice  of," 398,  161. 
Grayel  Run  Church,  history  of,  443. 
Greenville  Church,  history  of,  452. 
Greenfield  Church,  history  of,  455. 
Greenfield  Upper  Church,  history 

of,  437. 
Greenfield  Lower  Church,  history 

of,  429. 
Glenn.  Robert,  biography  of,  324, 

126,157. 
Glenn,  S.  M.,  163. 
Glasgow,  Ezekiel,  410. 
Grassie,  William,  444. 
Gridley,  J.  J.,  notice  of,  402, 168. 
Grier,  David,  notice  of,  390,  155. 
Grimes,  W.  M.,  432. 
Greersburgh  Academy,  34,  52. 

Hall,  David,  421. 

Hamilton,  W.  T.,  D.D.,  notice  of, 

398,  ]61. 
Hamilton,  J.  R.,  notice  of,  394, 158. 
Hammer,  G.  H.,  446. 
Hampson,  George  W.,  notice  of, 

374,  118. 
Harbor  Creek  Church,  history  of, 

449,  124. 
Harmonsburg  Church,  history  of, 

451,  117. 
Harned,    Nathan,    biography    of, 

308. 


Harrisville,  history  of,  440. 
Harvest  year,  123. 
Harvison,  W.  P.,  423. 
Hassinger,  P.,  notice  of,  372, 118. 
Hart,  Edson,  biography  of,  323. 
Hearers,  9. 

Hequembourg,  C.  L.,  445. 
Henry,  Ebenezer,  430. 
Heydon,  Daniel,  54. 
Hilands  Church,  histoiy  of,  428, 
17. 

Histories  of  churches  :  — 
Amity,  414. 
Beaver,  410. 
Beula,  421. 
Brookfield,  439. 
Bull  Creek,  422. 
Big  Bend,  453. 
Butler,  434. 
Cherry  Tree,  452. 
Center,  427. 
Centreville,  446. 
Cochranton,  455. 
Concord  (Butler  Co.),  433. 
Concord  (Venango  Co.),  448. 
Conneautville,  451. 
Cool  Spring,  410.      - 
Deerfield,  448. 
Erie,  First  Church,  439. 
Erie,  Park  Church,  454. 
Evansburg,  452. 
Fairfield,  417. 
Fail-view,  435. 
Franklin,  447. 
Gravel  Run,  443. 
Georgetown,  418. 
Girard,  450. 
Greenville,  452. 
Greenfield,  455. 
Greenfield,  Upper,  427. 
"  Lower,  429. 

Harbor  Creek,  449. 
Harmonsburg,  451. 
Harrisville,  440. 
Hilands,  428. 
Hopewell,  409. 
Hubbard,  439. 
Irvine,  454. 
Licking,  441. 
Meadville,  413. 
Mercer,  First,  412. 

"        Second,  456. 
Middlesex,  423. 
Middlebrook,  427. 
Mill  Creek,  419. 
Milledgeville,  454. 
Moorfield,  438. 


460 


INDEX. 


Mt.  Pleasant  (Beaver  Co.),  407. 
Mt.   Pleasant    (Venango   Co.), 

454. 
Mt.  Nebo,  42.3. 
Muddy  Creek,  434. 
Neshannock,  416. 
Newton,  441. 
New  Castle,  432. 
New  Rehoboth,  441. 
New  Salem,  407. 
North  East,  429. 
Oil  Creek,  445. 
Oil  Citv,  455. 
Park  Church,  Erie,  454. 
Petroleum  Center,  456. 
Plain,  423. 
Plaingrove,  426. 
Pymatuning,  421. 
Poland,  424. 
Sandy,  Upper,  418. 

"       Lower,  419. 
Sandy  Lake,  450. 
Salem,  411. 
Scrubgrass,  430. 
Slate  Lick,  420. 
Sturgeonville,  453. 
Slippery  Rock,  431. 
Springfield,  436. 
Sugar  Grove,  454. 
Sugar  Creek,  442. 
Tidioute,  448. 
Titusville,  445. 
Trumbull,  421.  , 
Union,  Armstrong  Co.,  421. 
Union,  Erie  Co.,  446. 
Unity,  440. 
Venango,  455. 
Washington,  444. 
Warren  (0.),  437. 

"        (Pa.),  444. 
Waterford,  443. 
Waterloo,  453. 
Westfield,  r Pa.)  425. 

"         (N.  Y.)  446. 
Westminster,  435. 
Youngstown,  408. 

History  of  Presbytery,  50,  110. 
Hoisington,  H.  R.,  438. 
Hopewell  Church,  history  of,  409. 
Houses,  17. 
Rowland,  H.  0.,  450. 
Howev,  J.  D.,  notice  of,  394, 161. 
Hubbard,  439. 
Hudson,  T.  B.,  430. 
Hughes,  T.  E.,  biography  of,  177, 
30.  1    .      »        > 

Hughes,  S.A.,  427.^ 


Hulin,  G.  W.,  438. 

Indian  Missions,  49. 
Irvine,  history  of,  454. 
Influence  of  Presbytery,  179. 

Jacks,  Miss  Eliza,  305. 
Jackson,  G.  W.,  422. 
Johnston,  Robert,    biography  of, 
240,  46,  71. 
"  Edward,  54. 

"  J.  W.,  407. 

"  T.  P.,  412. 

Jones,  Dr.  J.  H.,  108. 
Journal  of  William  Dickson,  37. 
"         Robert  Patterson,  43. 
Junkin,  A.  C,  notice  of,  395,  159. 
"       Capt.,  80. 
"       Dr.  George,  80. 
"       Dr.  D.  X.,  80,  432. 

Kean,  John  F.,  151. 

"      William  F.,  421. . 
Kerr,  T.  W.,  422. 

"     Joseph,  424. 

Labors  of  early  ministers,  10,  49. 

Lake  shore  troubles,  80. 

Lambe,  H.  B.,  notice  of,  401. 

Law,  M.,  437. 

Lectures,  McMillan's,  10. 

Lee,  Robert,   biography  of,    195, 

33,  5L 
Leake,  L.  F.,  423. 
Letter,  Munson's,  5. 
Lewis,  R.,  notice  of,  378, 132. 
Licentiates,  first,  34. 
Licking  Church,  history  of,  441. 
Limber,  John,  biography  of,  336. 
Lining  out,  57. 
Lockwood,  R.  S.,  notice  of,  378, 

132. 
Longevity  of  ministers,  170. 
Lowrie  family,  71. 

"      N.  S.,  notice  of,  398,  161. 
Lowary,  D.  P.,  410. 
Lyon,  G.  A.,  D.  D.,  notice  of,  374. 

Manufactures,  19. 
Mateer,  J.,  442. 
May,  Hezekiah,  414. 
McAboy,  L.  R.,  D.D.,  424. 
McCullough,    W.,    biography  of, 

356,  154. 
McCready,  A.,  notice  of,  371, 110. 
McCune,  J.  W.,  notice  of,  390,  154. 
McGarraugh,    R.,    biography    of, 

275,  76. 


INDEX. 


461 


McKinnev,  D.,  D.  D.,  notice  of, 

370,  107,  117,  146. 
McKinney,    Edmund,    notice    of, 

381. 
McKinney,  W.  W.,  427. 
McLain,  Wm.,  410. 
McNair,  John,  D.  D.,   biography 

of,  358,  132. 
Marcy,  B.,  biography  of,  302. 
Marks,  J.  J.,  D.  D.,  notice  of,  401, 

167. 
Matthews,    John,    biography    of, 

271,  70,  157. 
Meetings,  four  days',  120. 
Members,  first,  28. 
"  early,  7. 

Meadville,  history  of,  413,  103. 

"  Presbytery,  142. 

Mealy,  J.  M.,  416. 
Mercer,  First  Church,  history  of, 

412. 
Mercer,  Second    Church,  history 

of,  456. 
Merwin,  M.  T.,  notice  of,  386, 151. 
Mill  Creek,  history  of,  419. 
Milledgeville,  history  of,  454. 
Middlesex,  history  of,  423. 
Middlebrook,  history  of,  427. 
Ministers.     See  Biography,  and 

Notices. 
Ministers,  deceased,  170. 
Missionary  Society,  Western  For- 
eign, 127. 
Missionary  Society  of  Connecti- 
cut, 50. 
Iklission  at  Alleghany  City,  75. 
Moore,  William  P.,  notice  of,  399. 
Moorfield,  history  of,  438. 
Morality,  83. 
Moral  societies,  82. 
Montgomeiy,  James,  442. 
Morgans,  Morgan  D.,  126. 
Morton,  R.  S.,  notice  of,  389, 153. 
Mount  Nebo,  423. 
Mount  Pleasant,  407,  454. 
Munson,  John,  biography  of,  296. 
Munson,  John,  his  labors,  84,  93. 
Munson,     John,    letter    to     Dr. 

Plumer,  5. 
Music,  90. 
Muzzy,  C.  F.,  447. 

Nativity,  places  of,  170. 
Nesbit,  William,  409. 
Nevin,  E.  H.,  424. 
New  roll,  144. 
New  Castle,  history  of,  432. 


New  Rehoboth,  history  of,  441. 
New  Salem,  history  of,  407. 
Newell,  Huey,  notice  of,  396. 
North  East,  history  of,  429. 

Notices  of  living  ministers: 
Adair,  William  A.,  375. 
Alexander,  James,  D.  D.,  373. 

AV.  J.,  392. 
Behrends,  C.  A.,  393. 
Belden,  L.  M.,  400. 
Blackburn,  W.  M.,  393. 
Blake,  Edward  S.,  382. 
Cain,  George  F.,  399.   . 
Callen,  James  H.,  387. 
Condit,  Ira  M.,  395. 

"        John  G.,  397. 
Coulter,  James,  383. 
Cunningham,  Alex.,  385. 
Dickev,  James  W.,  384. 
Dickson,  Cyrus,  D.  D.,  381. 
Eaton,  S.  J.  M.,  387. 
Eddy,  Hiram,  382. 
Findlev,  John  Ross,  393. 
Fuller,'  William,  379. 
Gray,  James  H.,  398. 
Gridley,  J.  J.,  402. 
Grier,  David,  390. 
Hamilton,  John  R.,  394. 

W.  T  ,  D.  D.,  398. 
Hampson,  Geo.  W.,  374. 
Hassinger,  Peter,  372. 
Henderson,  J.  S.,  431. 
Howey,  John  D.,  394. 
Junkin,  A.  C,  395. 
Lambe,  Henry  B.,  401. 
Leason,  T.  S.,  431. 
Lewis,  Reuben,  378. 
Lockwood,  R.  S.,  378. 
Lowrie,  N.  S.,  398. 
Lyon,  George  A.,  D.  D.,  374. 
Marks,  J.  Junius,  D.  D.,  40L 
McCready,  Absalom,  371. 
McCune,  John  W.,  390. 
McKinney,  David,  D.  D.,  370. 

Edmund,  381. 
Merwm,  Miles  T.,  386. 
Moore,  WilHam  P.,  399. 
Morton,  Robert  S.,  389. 
Newell,  Huey,  396. 
Olmstead,  L.  G.,LL.D.,  386. 
Parkinson,  M.  A.,  388. 
Patton,  David,  403. 
Peck,  Simeon,  376. 
Reynolds,  John  V.,  D.  D.,  381. 
Robinson,  W.  M.,  399. 
Rice,  John,  400. 


462 


INDEX. 


Sailor,  John,  388. 
Sample,  R.  P\,  391. 
Sargent,  J.  H.,  397. 
Scott,  George,  396. 
Shields,  James  M.,  392. 
Smith,  J.  T.,  D.  D.,  383. 

"       John  M.,  385. 

"       J.  Irwin,  391. 
Smyth,  J.  Jones,  402. 
Spelman,  J.  H.,  396. 
Van  Cleve,  R.  S.,  401. 
Van  Liew,  John,  D.  D.,  269. 
Waggoner,  David,  380. 
Washburn,  Daniel,  380. 
Webber,  Henry,  384. 
Willson,  William,  389. 
Wilson,  J.  G.,  377. 
Zahniser,  G.  W.,  390. 

Ogden,  Ephraim,  423. 

Oil  Creek,  history  of,  445. 

Oil  City,  history  of,  455. 

Oldest  ministers,  170. 

OJmstead,  L.  G.,  LL.  D.,  notice  of, 

386, 149. 
Ordination  of  missionary,  158. 
Overture  to  other  branch,  149. 
Oxtoby,  J.  T.,  456. 

Parkinson,  M.  A.,  notice  of,  388, 

153. 
Park  Church,  Erie,  history  of,  454. 
Pastorates,  short,  169. 
Patterson,  R.,  biography  of,  233, 

41. 
Patterson,  R.,  his  journal,  43. 
Patton,  David,  notice  of,  403, 168. 

"      W.  D.,  415. 
Peck,  Simeon,  notice  of,  376, 132. 
Petroleum  Center,  history  of,  456. 
Pittinger,  N.,  biography  of,  249, 

48. 
Places  of  study,  171. 
Plaingrove,  history  of,  426. 
Plan,  new,  104. 
Plan  of  miion,  51. 
Pleasantville,  456. 
Poland,  history  of,  424. 
Porter,  Alex.,  450. 
Population,  170. 
Potter,  J.  W.,  424. 
Prayer,  58. 

"      resolution  concerning,  34. 
Presbyteries,  new,  55,  56. 
Presbytery,    Philadelphia  Third, 

135. 
Preaching,  character  of,  64,  65. 


Protest,  52. 
Psalmody,  84. 
Psalmody,  fathers  on,  85. 
"  Riggs  on,  88. 

Quay,  A.  B.,  410. 


Rankin,  W.  A.,  445. 
Record  of  Presbytery,  172. 

"  "      1862,  1863,  161. 

«  "      1864,  162. 

''  "      1865,  163. 

Redick,  John,  biography  of,  288, 

81,  82. 
Reed,  William,  408. 

"     J.  F.,  D.  D.,  437,  446. 
Religious  influence,  4. 

^'  "         1866,  167.      . 

"  "         1867,  167. 

Resolution,  McCreadv's,  138. 
Revivals,  114,  157, 168. 
Revival,  great,  57. 
"        scenes,  58. 
Reynolds,  J.  V.,  D.  D.,  notice  of, 

381,  134. 
Rice,  John,  notice  of,  400, 163. 

"     G.  S.,  439. 
Riggs,  Cyrus,  biography  of,  256, 

51. 
Riggs,  C.  C,  D.  D.,  260. 
Riggs,  Hannah,  260. 
Roads,  12. 
Rockwell,  439. 
Robinson,  W.  M.,  notice  of,  399, 

162. 
Roll  of  Presbyterj',  169. 
Roll,  new,  100. 
Rouse,  87. 
Rowland,  James,  198. 

Sabbath-schools,  102. 
Sacraments,  22,  107. 
Sailor,  John,  notice  of,  388,  153. 
Sample,  R.F.,        "      391,155. 

"       Robert,  431. 
Salem,  history  of,  411. 
Sandy  Lake,  history  of,  450. 
Sargent,  notice  of,  397,  159. 
Satterfield,  J.,  biography  of,  199, 

33 
Satterfield,  Meade,  414,  201. 
Scott,  T.  G.,  425. 

"      George,  notice  of,  396, 159. 

"      J.  W.,  D.  D.,  424. 
Scrubgrass,  history  of,  430,  16,  47. 
Seminaries,  Theological,  171. 


INDEX. 


463 


Shields,  J.  M.,  notice  of,  392, 156. 

Singing,  21 

Slaver}',  131,  132, 150. 

"        petition  on,  149. 
Smith,  J.  T.,  D.  D.,  notice  of,  383. 

"       John  M.,  notice  of,  385. 

"       James  R.,  429. 

"       J.  Irwin,  notice  of,  391, 155. 

"       Joseph,  188. 

"       W.  D.,  407. 
Smoking  accommodations,  70. 
Smvth,  J.  Jones,  notice  of,  402, 168. 
Slate  Lick,  history  of,  420. 
Slippery  Rock,  history  of,  431. 
Snowden,  N.  R.,  414. 
Speer,  T.  P.,  441. 
Spelman,  J.  H.,  notice  of,  396. 
Springfield,  history  of,  436,  134. 
Stated  Clerks,  172. 
Stated  Clerk's  Bill,  52. 
Stockton,  Joseph,  biography    of, 

191,  33. 
Stratton,  W.  0.,  441. 
Struve,  C.  V.,  biography  of,  351, 

152. 
Sturgeonville,  histor}'-  of,  453. 
Sugar  Creek,  history  of,  442. 
Sugar  Grove,  history  of,  454. 
Supplies,  42,  53. 
Swift,  Dr.  E.  P.,  159. 

"       E.  E.,  432. 
Synod  of  Western  Pennsylvania, 

142. 

Tait,  Samuel,  biography  of,  185, 31. 
Taylor,  Robert,  biography  of,  361, 
159. 

"        William  G.,  410. 

"        William  M.,  426. 

"        AVilHam  Howell,  445. 
Temperance,  81,  116. 
Territory,  5. 
Times,  3. 

Tinker,  Reuben,  446. 
Titusville,  history  of,  445. 
Tokens,  23. 
Tour  of  Macurdv,  36. 
Travelling,  13,  20. 
Townlev,  J.  H.,  148. 
Trunkey,  Judge,  363. 


Union,  Armstrong  Co.,  history  of, 

421. 
Union,  Erie  Co.,  history  of,  446. 
Vacancies,  56,  100. 
Vance,  Joseph,  440. 
Vance's  Fort,  4. 
Van  Cleve,  R.  S.,  notice  of,  401, 

167. 
Van  Liew,  John,  D.  D.,  notice  of, 

369, 101. 
Venango,  history  of,  455. 
Vote  of  Presbytery,  139. 

Waggoner,  D.,  notice  of,  380,  145, 

162. 
Walker,  R.  B.,  D.  D.,  427. 
Wallace,  B.  J.,  D.  D.,  127. 
Warren,  F.  V.,  446. 

"        Pa.,  history  of,  444. 
"         0.,  history  of,  437. 
Washington,  history  of,  446. 
Washburn,  D.,  notice  of,  380,  146. 
Waterford,  history  of,  443. 
Waterloo,  history  of,  453. 
Webber,  H.,  history  of,  384,  148. 
West,  N.,  D.  D.,    biography    of, 

331. 
Westfield,  Pa.,  history  of,  425. 

"  N.  y.,  history  of,  446. 

Wick,  William,  biography  of,  182. 
Williams,   L.   W.,    biography  of, 

343,  152. 
Williams,  Samuel,  434. 
Willson,  William,  notice  of,  389. 
Wilson,  J.  G.,  notice  of,  377,  132. 

"       L.  B.,  409. 
Wilson's  Presbyterian  Historical 

Almanac,  272. 
Wood,William,  biography  of,  216. 
Wortman,  M.  L.,  429. 
Wright,  James,  424. 
Wylie,  William,  D.  D.,  biography 

of,  203,  33,  48. 

Young,  Loyal,  D  D.,  435. 
Young,  James,  154. 
Youngstown,  history  of,  408. 

Zahniser,  G.  W     notice  of,  390, 
154. 


Princeton  The    oaica  .Seminary  Librari^^        & 


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